Weed We See More Often in Gardens: August 2021

While exploring alleyways in the Jones Avenue area of Toronto I discovered many thriving weeds. A weed could be defined as a spontaneous urban plant which survives with no help from us.

Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
Curled Dock (Rumex crispus)

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

More weeds:

Lady’s Thumb (Persicaria maculosa)
Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
Plantain (Plantago major)
White Elm (Ulmus americana)
Linden (Tilia cordata)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium alba)

Now that it is legal, I see well-tended Marijuana plants more and more often in gardens.

Marijuana (Cannabis)
Marijuana (Cannabis)
Marijuana (Cannabis)

It is a strong-smelling plant so large quantities of it can be upsetting to neighbours.

More weeds:

Norway Maple keys
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia)
Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)
Silver Maple (Acer sachharinum)
Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo)
Lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium alba)
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

MYSTERY BIRD

This crested brownish bird about the size of a House Sparrow with a yellow band at the tail tip is a Cedar Waxwing.

Cedar Waxwing

NATURE POETRY

Cruising these residential Sunday
streets in dry August sunlight:
what offends us is
the sanities:
the houses in pedantic rows, the planted
sanitary trees, assert
levelness of surface like a rebuke
to the dent in our car door. – Margaret Atwood

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Weed We See More Often in Gardens: August 2021

  1. rosemarie fischer

    got a “kick” from this post…..saw/recognized a number of these plants,from my back yard which is pretty “wild”….liked the poem,since I don”t care for those “perfect” gardens. Also,proud to say I recognized the bird……thanks Miles

    Reply

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