I didn't waste any time getting back outside once the rainy season stopped and the sun came out. There's LOTS for me to do, a lot of it fighting weeds, and they came back with a vengeance. I'm focusing my priorities on the invasive types, specifically a patch of Bohemian Knotweed in a small corner of the creek side area that I've been working on. This last weekend I spent around 5 or 6 hours over two days digging up the knotweed. Some were along the bank of the creek, and as I worked my way upstream, I also encountered other unwanted invaders such as ivy and barbed vines (probably boysenberry vines). I've managed to dig out most of them. Since they were rooted in pine needles and willow leaves that layered up over several decades, they were relatively easy to pull out by the root. But it's going to take at least a couple more years to entirely get rid of the knotweed. Next up are the "Stinky Bobs", aka "Herb Roberts" aka "Wild Geraniums" that are in the same area and also along the back part of the fence. Fortunately they are easy to pull up. Then there's an invasion of some mundane weeds that started out in just a couple small areas. I covered them with cardboard over the winter which was effective for the ones I covered, but they sprouted like crazy all around the covered area too.
On the good side, I can now see what has survived over the winter. Two surprises were a Solomon's Seal hosta that I had given up for dead, it sprung back to life. The other surprise was a Crocosmia 'Lucifer' that I had also given up for dead after some varmint chewed on the stalk last year.
Boot Hill, July 2014. The patch of knotweed was mostly off to the left in the picture, underneath the willow tree.
Boot Hill, May 2016. You can see "tombstone rock" as I call it.
The creek bank was covered in knotweeds, ivy, boysenberry vines. I wouldn't have minded the boysenberry vines, but they were small and no berries.
Set out to dry (provided there's enough sun between now and yard waste day next week). The large gray bucket is filled with Stinky Bobs.
