Tumbleweed and careless weed are here to stay and though careless weed is an Arizona native (Amaranthus palmeri) it certainly appears, at least to me, that it has become more prolific and widespread. But really it is the introduced exotic grasses that make me grumpiest. Many of the introduced grasses were thought of as beneficial…think Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana)… or showy in an urban landscape…think green fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum). I mean, Yikes!!! Anyway, the featured varmint in this show is Natal grass or Melinis repens, (formerly Rhynchelytrum roseum or sometimes R. repens, but always, oh dear.)
In the back of many seed catalogs you can find a section on ornamental grasses. I think that section should be called “invasive varmints”. But listen, go native my friends, because we don’t need anymore non-native grasses in the desert, the grassland or the sky islands of the borderlands.
The photos are mine and of natal grass out in the Galiuro Mountains.
There is no getting around it, every summer monsoon when the borderlands come to life it is so exciting! Apodanthera undulata, the crazy melon, ...
When Ms. Mesquitey and I gather acorns to plant we bag up hundreds, but I can never resist nabbing a few if I see...
Petey waxes poetic about the plants and animals found around his little homestead and finally focuses on a plant called Mentzelia pumila. Let’s listen.
