A few days ago John and I were down at the pond here at Struan Farm, discussing the design for new fencing around the back side to keep the stock out as well as additional native plantings. I have pledged to do the planting and to crack into weeding the surrounds as well, since we need to figure out where gaps are in the native trees and flaxes I planted over two years ago now. Some things have done well while others have been strangled out. It's past time for a clean up, it is major work to be done in instalments when time permits.
In the process of walking around I noticed this:
The plant was leaning out over the dam next to native "toetoe," the magenta colour of the flowers/berries caught my eye. This didn't look native, oh oh. In fact, it had the look of something invasive and bad. We pulled off a sprig and returned to the house to do some research.
My weed "bible" remains Weedbusters New Zealand's "Weed Control Handbook." It is a great reference guide for anyone with bush and gardens. I bought it as a Christmas gift for John many years ago, but guess who uses it most? Me. There is basic information by category (garden, climbers and vines, shrubs and trees, and ground covers and fillers). They advise whether something is a noxious weed or simply invasive and worth getting out while you still can. There is information on how to control particular weeds, chemical and non. It is one of those really useful books I am not sure I could do without. Many of these plants are things gardeners planted years ago that have simply run rampant in the NZ climate and need to be eradicated.
It turns out this is "Himalayan Honeysuckle," (leycesteria formosa). It is spread by birds and water, is very invasive, and pushes out native species. And since it's flowering and fruiting right now we trundled back down to the pond with loppers and poison gel to see if we could remove it. Fortunately poison wasn't required, John was able to cut the branches then pull the plant out by the roots. His able assistant dragged the branches to the trailer and picked up the purple berries as they dropped off. Don't want those purple berries travelling from the pond by stream down to the other ponds and the river or we'll have a much bigger problem.
Beautiful but very bad news. Bye, bye Himalayan Honeysuckle!
Comments