Global infestation

Humans, eh? They're everywhere, destroying habitats, polluting environments, creating a mass extinction event and shitting on the doorstep of the very biosphere which allows them to exist. And yet, it is humans who have the nerve to coin words like 'vermin', 'pest' and 'weeds' to describe other species which have the temerity to impact upon our lives and are deemed harmful or undesirable. We're a plague (Early readers of the post will have seen this typo'd as 'plaque'. That kinda works too). Killing or consuming all in the insatiable desire to be... what? More wealthy? More happy? More entertained? More vain? That's our mores, right there. Admittedly, a small number of humans recognise the stupidity of all the wanton overconsumption of resources, but this ship's gonna take more than that tiny number to turn around. Maybe the iceberg could envisage what was coming and decided to strike first?

But enough of the rant, I have a confession to make.

No, not that.

This.

Fumitory, Speedwell, Charlock and Groundsel

I am rather partial to the sight of Fumitory, it gladdens my heart in a way that orchids just don't.

The photo above is taken in the garden of the place where I stay. This garden is a blend of traditional lawn and unruly cottage borders, with a small area of wildflower meadow.

In a twist of fate, the fumitory isn't in the borders or wildflower meadow, it's only in the vegetable plot.

Sigh.

A two week break in June allowed time for the veg beds to be swamped by arable weeds, and attractive as they are, they had to go. It was a tough decision. So tough in fact, that there's been a conversation about adding another veg bed purely for the arable weeds, and the insects this would attract.

And so weeding happened.

Onions set free, leeks still to do

There's neeps, kale, peas and parsley here, honest

Two rows of carrots liberated, two to go

The potato bed in progress

The salad vegetables in the same bed as the carrots are responding well to no longer being incarcerated. They're considering having a row party for VE(g) Day.