As I walked to the Austin Garden, past the weeds in the Rose Field, one weed in particular caught my eye ... a giant thistle. This thing is taller than I am. Honestly, it's difficult to gather the motivation to deal with this thistle when the butterflies love it so much.
I'm torn. This is the only thistle, but I know that the seeds on this one plant have the potential to make thousands of plants next year. The nature lover in me is looking at the benefit of this plant, as a source for nectar now and seeds for birds (especially Goldfinches) later. I should chop it down and spray the remains with Round-Up ... but I don't always do what I SHOULD do. We'll see.
Such choices, such choices! Pleasure today or work for tomorrow. I say, leave it for the critters! (Easy for me to say since I don't have to tend your garden. LOL)
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to chop down something that feeds so many beautiful butterflies and birds. Tough choice.
ReplyDeleteI say take out the thistle and plant a couple of butterfly bushes for next year. :-))
ReplyDeleteCan you chop it down, but move the seeds somewhere you don't mind the thistle coming up (or not) next year? There's always a compromise :)
ReplyDeletePretty Butterflies~ but oh, yes, the thistle~ if you keep it you will have millions of them~ ugh~ I say send the butterfly over to another plant, bush, or flower~ LOL~
ReplyDeletesmiles
Teresa
Yeah, I was chopping mine down in the native grass areas I'm letting grow...right up till I saw a Goldfinch feeding off one.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! I had to cut the flowers from my hostas because they were getting nasty but I did leave them longer because the hummingbirds loved them. I have alot of "natural" in my yard right now. :)
ReplyDeletexo
Compromise and deadhead after the blooms fade?
ReplyDeleteBirds will find other food sources, and you can always hang a feeder.
Although imagine the butterflies with a field full of thistle... ;-)
Noooooooo!!! Any plant that attracts butterflies and goldfinches is a gift, not a weed! Leave it be!
ReplyDeleteI thinnk Snappy Di has the solution.
ReplyDeleteWithout that thistle, you wouldn't have had that amazing shot. Beautiful butterflies! Do the butterflies not like roses? If they do... looks like they would be having a field day.
ReplyDeleteTaking out the thistle: 10 minutes hard labor
ReplyDeleteKeeping it and letting it spread:
many hours of hard labor
A photo shot like that: PRICELESS!
We grow certain native 'weeds' that bees, birds and butterflies love around here. (no thistles, though)
ReplyDeleteI say leave it for now... : ) deadhead later... gorgeous photo!
Don't kill the thistle!!! I love thistle- it may be a weed but it's my favorite. Love the beautiful photo- the butterfly is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteVicki