Re: Perennial Mistakes

**N* S* <s*@earthlink.net>**

My worst gardening nightmare Chinese Lanterns was a gift from  
neighbor. Having used it as an everlasting in flower arrangements she  
planted it in her perennial border that bordered my lot line. This  
thug sent runners into my compost bins and tunneled under pathways  
into raised beds.  I was new at the gardening game and  thought it  
had reseeded in my beds, so I let it go the first year and cut off  
all the seed pods in fall. Unbeknownst to me the runners were running  
amuck through out the garden.  The stuff loved digging deep into the  
compacted clay soil beneath the woodchip covered walk ways.     I dug  
and dug and dug, but never did succeed in getting rid of all of it.  
My compost castle, a very large two bin affair could not be moved, so  
it was impossible to get to the roots that became established behind  
it and I was unwilling to take it apart.

Soapwort ( Saponaria officinallis) is another pest that challenges me  
here in the country. I was into herbs and charmed by the fact I could  
use it as soap. Plus, the lovely pink blossoms made a charming  
addition to my English border. It will be with me forever.

Horse tail, another plant that is selling in garden centers, should  
come with a skull and cross bones warning. It was listed as a Native  
Plant Alternative in an article published in Gardenchic magazine a  
slick new publication directed to independent garden centers. That  
stuff could take over the world if it  gets a foothold in America's  
landscapes.

Last but by no means least is Dames Rockets (Hesperis mertronalis.)  
It's taking over the peat lands that have been left idle from farming  
now that celery, carrots and other crops are no longer profitable to  
grow here in Michigan. We call them muck farms.  I was also shocked  
to find the Iris beds at Giverny, the home of Monet, had been allowed  
to be taken over by Dames Rockets.

Nancy Szerlag
The Detroit News

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