Anastasia Abboud
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Garden Warrior
Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun.
​-- Gibran Khalil Gibran

Superfood or Weed -- How About Both?

5/31/2023

1 Comment

 
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I had to laugh at myself. There are so many things to do in our little garden right now, I hardly know which way to turn when I’m out there. Being out for the count of five months –FIVE MONTHS! – not only put me behind. It gave me a new perspective and appreciation for my garden. And I think I might call it “my garden” for a while. In the face of what was becoming an overwhelming mess, Joseph actually suggested taking out the vegetable beds. Gasp!

I’m back, now, and he’s pleased to be harvesting cucumbers and mehti this week. Humph!

Back to my folly… Every year, I have an issue with purslane. It’s a superfood – did you know? And we love it in salads, especially fattoush. Problem is, it’s invasive. I believe I’ve mentioned before that it will grow on your head if you stand outside long enough. And to those who don’t know, it looks weedy. So, this past weekend, when I surveyed its rampant growth around our – my – tomato plants, I decided to pull it in favor of neatness.
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In case you're wondering, I don’t mulch. On a rare occasion, I might top sections with good, organic compost. But I won't cover my beds with commercial mulch. Can’t stand the stuff. And, in this case -- to be perfectly clear -- it would lose to the purslane. 

That being the case -- the case of no commercial mulch -- it became obvious that I was baring the soil to who knows what noxious weed seeds. So, I stopped pulling what was essentially green, edible groundcover.
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Phew! I just hope it grows back!

​Gardens are fun in that there are always challenges and choices. With small gardens, especially my tiny one where everything is on display, we have to be mindful of aesthetics. For example, wildlife gardens can be messy – the messier the better, in fact. And vegetable and cutting gardens can also look ragged at times – even the best of times.  

Our HOA would assuredly object if I allowed a prolonged mess since my garden can be viewed from the golf course. But I wouldn’t want that, anyway. My vision for this particular garden is flowering borders with vegetables and herbs growing neatly down the middle in raised beds.
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Well, as neatly as possible. 😉
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1 Comment
Mary Morgan
6/1/2023 09:11:50

Oh, my! I didn't know this about purslane. This sounds similar to peppermint as far as an invasive plant/herb. Once, I planted peppermint in the ground near other herbs. Good grief! It grew everywhere and dominated any other herb. Now, my beautiful peppermint is contained in a pot. Or I've considered growing it all by itself in a raised bed. Love your garden, Anastasia!

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    Our Garden

    For years, my husband and I worked at creating a series of gardens on our four-acre lot in a rural, Texas subdivision west of Houston. I have to say, it was a fantastic experience. Now, I have a pocket garden on a golf course.

    I’ve learned that a small garden is as much a balm to the soul as a large one and can keep the gardener just as busy. 

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    While every garden is different, they all offer challenges, pleasures, time with nature.   Much like people, they have their good days and bad days, high seasons and low; and they can all be fun and beautiful if you love them enough.  
      

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  • Home
  • You've Got This, Amy Munro
  • A Little Romance
  • Garden Warrior
  • Grains of Sand
  • My Books
  • Tremors Through Time
  • All Shook Up
  • If Only You Knew
  • About Me