Cleavers, Sticky Willy, or Galium Aparine

Farway

Davesnave wrote: »

Nothing appeared to happen until this year, when we have a few odd bods among the standard native foxgloves along the field edges. I'm not sure if I approve of them yet though, so I may yet remove the aliens.

I was listening to local gardening programme, seems foxglove mixing is not detrimental to natives unlike bluebells
It was explained why not, basically seems foxglove genes are a mess anyway with odd ones popping up willy nilly without a by your leave or human intervention

andrewf75

Loads of cleavers and foxgloves in my garden (Oxfordshire)

Noticeable increase since Trump and Brexit

madjackslam

Can't say I've noticed any difference in North Yorkshire.

Davesnave

Farway wrote: »

I was listening to local gardening programme, seems foxglove mixing is not detrimental to natives unlike bluebells
It was explained why not, basically seems foxglove genes are a mess anyway with odd ones popping up willy nilly without a by your leave or human intervention

I like variation, but not things that look out of place, so one or two with more unnatural looks will be selectively pulled, I think.

Apodemus

Davesnave wrote: »

There's been a huge increase in this weed throughout my area of Devon this year. I wonder if others have observed similar rampantness?

It's been widespread for long time and very successful in normal years, without drawing too much attention to itself, but I can't account for the dramatic difference this year.

It doesn't bode well for 2020!

Opposite end of the country but plenty here! ...so it’s not down to long hot summers!

I reckoned it was just the years of gardening for wildlife catching up with me.

Strangely, I was also thinking that my Aquilegias have not been as numerous this year - probably just crowded out by the sticky willie, nettles and ground elder! :rotfl:

madjackslam

Apodemus wrote: »

Strangely, I was also thinking that my Aquilegias have not been as numerous this year - probably just crowded out by the sticky willie, nettles and ground elder!

I have noticed that too. I wondered if it's aquilegia downy mildew, although I haven't studied the plants closely enough to know for sure, and it could easily be increased competition from other things in the bed, other pests, and not putting in any effort into increasing stock.

Davesnave

Ah, my aquilegias are fine; in fact I need to pull out a load of rather samey ones today and put in some replacements grown from more interesting plants. Yes, I know they won't come true, and that's half the fun.

I also notice our semiaquilegia ecalcarata flore plena has multiplied tremendously. That's rare, and it does come true, but if I try to sell it, people say, "Oh yeah, got that!":rotfl:

ancientofdays

That's a pretty one Davesnave. Lots of sticky Willie here in the West midlands, more than usual. I'm pulling it out but it is a sneaky beast.

unrecordings

I had a question - how does sticky willie propagate ? There's a couple of massive ones in the hedge at the moment but thinking on it, I've never seen them flower - anyway I googled it, yes they do flower resulting in probably the little round seedpods that the cat gets covered in. And I found this:

https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/cleavers-galium-aparine

Farway

unrecordings wrote: »

I had a question - how does sticky willie propagate ? There's a couple of massive ones in the hedge at the moment but thinking on it, I've never seen them flower - anyway I googled it, yes they do flower resulting in probably the little round seedpods that the cat gets covered in. And I found this:

https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/cleavers-galium-aparine

Never knew they could be eaten, but I guess they are not very tasty or they be on sale somewhere
Need a food blogger to tell followers they are super food and we'll all be quids in;)