Public service announcement: Don't buy this plant

Whatever you do, don't buy this plant—no matter how pretty one of its names (snow in the mountain) is. It's goutweed, plain and simple, which really doesn't sound like something you'd want in your backyard, right?

Don't believe me? Read what others have to say:
• UBC Botanical Gardens Forums
• Northscaping.com forum

After digging up as much as possible (even the tiniest bit of root will generate new growth), I've decided to remove much of the soil from the roughly 2' by 2' patch, cover the area with plastic (and let it sit for a year or so), and burn the bits of root that I've already dug up (along with a few neighbouring plants whose root balls have been infiltrated by goutweed rhizomes).

I can't believe it's legal to sell this highly invasive, non-native plant in Canada. There is apparently one sure way to avoid having to deal with it: move to a goutweed-free location.

Here's an interesting fact sheet on goutweed.

Still here, almost a year later

Okay, I have an excuse for not blogging: lousy weather and little to no motivation. But now that summer is officially here and we've had a few nice days, I'll show you what's new in the garden. Check out this slideshow of some of the flowers in our front yard.


Garden 2011 - Images by Barbara K. Adamski