The Horrible Exploding Weed

I finally found out what it is. The horrible exploding weed. It starts out in the winter as little sprouts that completely cover every single bare spot in the lawn. In the early Spring it grows about 6"-8" tall between lawn mowings, and has tiny little white flowers. But in the summer it gets dry and has seed pods, that, when you try to pull the weed out, explode and throw seeds out everywhere. It's a horrible, beastly weed, called Hairy Bittercress. Apparently its edible, but that doesn't make me feel any better. It is literally taking over my yard. Here's a link with pictures and a description. It must grow everywhere...East, West, Midwest, UK, Australia, because I found references to it from all those places. Perhaps I should just turn over my yard to it and call it a food crop!!!

http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/carhi.htm

I'm Baaaaaa aaaack!

It was a long, gray winter in Oregon. I can't complain too much, because it was far worse in the Midwest and East, with snow and ice. In fact, they have 6" of snow in parts of the Midwest this weekend (crazy!), but nevertheless the gray winter in the Northwest really got to me this year.

So I was itching to get my veggie garden started and on a rare sunny weekend in early March, I uncovered part of the bed and planted a row of carrots, two rows of radishes, some nasturtiums and marigolds, and two kinds of peas -- all from seed -- and also put in some lettuce starts. It's been slow going. The nights have been cool, and things have only just now sprouted.

This weekend, the beginning of Spring Break, was beautiful, so I also added a row of broccoli and cauliflower starts.

Yesterday I took soil samples down to a local nursery that was offering free testing. I found out the soil around my blueberries is too alkaline...my garden soil is basically dead and not good at all...and my compost is gold! So I spent yesterday emptying my compost bin, carrying buckets of it and working it into the garden bed in the rows between the seedlings. I also amended the soil around my blueberries. And I planted the pots on my front deck in different varieties of bright blue Senetti. They are so gorgeous! Spring has sprung, and for that I am grateful.