Today's moment of spring
No idea what these tiny purple flowers are. But they're all over the grass this year. And they're pretty.
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I know it all too well. I consider it an invasive weed and the bane of my vegetable garden. Formal name: Glechoma hederacea. Common names include Creeping Charlie or ground ivy. In the mint family and spreads like mad. As an organic gardener the only thing I know to do about it is to pull it out and even then it'll leave wee bits of itself in the soil to rise again . I don't mind it so much in lawn, but it'll choke out a flower bed or vegetable garden. In its defense, bees like it.
... said chrisck on May 13, 2015 at 7:06 PM | link
You won't like it when it kills your entire grass and flower bed. It's the WORST and really hard to kill. I've heard the only time you can put weed killer on it is when the flowers are in bloom.
... said Catherine on May 14, 2015 at 9:09 AM | link
Yup, this noxious plant is right up there with wild violets in my book. Once you get them, they're nearly impossible to get rid of without resorting to serious herbicides.
... said -R. on May 14, 2015 at 11:47 AM | link
OMG I HATE THAT DAMNED GROUND IVY!
My neighbors let their lawn go and it keeps coming into my lawn and vegetable garden. Here's a good page on how to get rid of it (not organic)
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/fs1219/
The best time to apply the herbicide is in the fall.
... said Amy on May 14, 2015 at 11:55 AM | link
Wow, so much hate for gill-over-the-ground! It smells so fresh and good when it is mowed over, plus it has quite a few medicinal usages. I'm going to make some tea with it today, I think. http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/i/ivygro16.html I'm so glad my yard is full of flowers and also glad that I don't have neighbors who use herbicides on their lawns.
... said Sarah on May 15, 2015 at 9:49 AM | link
Go Sarah! I really don't get the whole "perfect" lawn thing. Gorgeous photo and yay, lets all grow stuff!
... said Laura M. on May 15, 2015 at 11:11 AM | link
I'm with Sarah. I love it as ground cover. Right now, my backyard is covered with the little purple flowers and, when we mow this weekend, there will be that nice spicy scent.
... said Paula on May 15, 2015 at 1:36 PM | link