Robbers and Sweetness in the Gardens

Thursday evening I was out watering the roadside garden in the late afternoon when a robber (or assassin) fly landed on the wand to eat its meal. I watched until it suddenly dropped the husk and took off to find its next victim

Was out in the yard yesterday cutting back shrubs and smelled something sweet. Summer sweet is appropriately named!

It fascinates me how fast sumac grows (Cop Car knows this well). I didn't get a before picture, this is after cutting back a bunch of limbs/stalks on the right hand side so I can mow in between it and the lilac 3-4' away (out of picture) without being attacked. The sumac and a smallish maple right next to it were cut completely down over the winter by the power company. There wasn't a twig or leaf in sight after they were done. The base of the clump is at the bottom of the rock on the right. When I stand at that level, the top of the flag is about chin height (lets call it 4.5' ). I thought I had gotten the entire sumac in the picture, but evidently I didn't but the sumac has to be 9-10' tall anyway. Doesn't grow as fast as the Japanese knotweed that I am battling next door to keep it from crossing over onto my land, but still impressive.

Along with the sumac, I trimmed back several other areas, including the burning bush (not pictured) and the chokeberry bush that is in the northern drainage area (before and after pics).

Yes, it looks like crap because I used a trimmer instead of hand trimming (I'd still be out there trying to finish it up ;)), but it will bounce back nicely.

Also, on that same side but above the drainage area, I attacked the wild mix of vegetation next to the neighboring properties shed (it had encroached well into my yard. It is a mix of sumac, Virginia creeper, pokeberries and tall wildflowers. Forgot to take a before picture, but I cut back a couple of feet and now I'll be able to weed wack the grass and such next to the stone wall.

Other shrubs that got trimmed by hand include some stray Nine Bark branches that I was mowing over as well as the weeping laceleaf Japanese maple.

I was pleased with the progress I made yesterday on taming some of the areas in the yard. Still need to mow, but since I've gotten very little rain in the last two weeks, it may wait until next week.

Comments

[Cop Car]

Your vegetation is lush, desired or not. As well as the sumac, poke weed takes a bit of work to keep it from taking over the world. I don't know if your neighbors appreciate your efforts, but they should.

BTW: In recompense for his Bermuda grass that keeps me fighting it, I had half hoped that the sumac would send up shoots in my neighbor's Bermuda grass lawn. It's just as well that the sumac did not as my lesser angel might have made me chortle in glee. I do love the way sumac colors up in the fall.

[bogie]

The neighbor, is a landlord for the trailer. He also owns a landscaping company, but he just lets that section go wild. The section I cleared is on my property, so no appreciation needed.

Pokeweed ain't so bad. Japanese knotweed is the worst as it just doesn't die and the pieces of roots are viable for decades. It was being kept somewhat in check by all the shade in the former swamp, but that shade is gone . . .