Noticing backyard "weeds"

I was wandering around my (small) yard, taking notice of what was coming up in my gardens. I decided to start to pay attention to the weeds as well as the things I intentionally planted, rather than just ripping them out of the ground and tossing them aside.

Uploading some of these plants to iNaturalist helped me to identify and learn a little more about these things that are trying to grow in my yard (many against my wishes). I noticed the differently shaped leaves on each, paying more attention to them than I had ever before as I tried to figure out what they were.

One of the plants that has been especially abundant in my yard over the years is currently covered in lots of tiny, two-lipped, pinkish-purple flowers (and actually looks kind of pretty), and I learned that it's Ground Ivy. It's in the mint family, and sure enough, when I crushed a scalloped leaf between my fingers I got a faint mint-like scent from it. I researched it a little further, and learned that although it is indeed invasive (I knew that part already!), it also has some past medicinal and food uses. I won't be eating it myself since it can be toxic, but I began to have a new appreciation for this pretty little weed that I used to mindlessly rip out of the ground.

הועלה ב-מאי 3, 2020 09:41 אחה"צ על ידי danivaill