Great stuff Ashley, thanks for the insights into summer, it is winter here but we hardly get below 5C, so we just complain about the cold as we are not use to it in subtropical Queensland!
My big goal for the summer is to learn more about the plants that grow around our summer cabin and how they can be used. I'm also planning to press the flowers and create an herbarium with field notes.
Ashley, do you grow your cattails in a container? I want to add some to our spring-fed pond but hear that they will take over quickly if not contained somehow.
They actually seeded themselves by wind probably around 10 years ago. When we moved here there were none. They have slowly spread across the surface, but only the shallow areas with water less than 18 inches. In years with less rain, their footprint is beat back a bit, so they stay contained on their own (but our pond is rain fed, not spring fed). If your pond is shallow everywhere, they will take over, but it'll take years. They make a lot of seed, so containing a patch in a container wouldn't help control them unless you cut off every seedhead (and then also pulled up any that chance seed from the surrounding area).
Love your posts.
Thank you!
Great stuff Ashley, thanks for the insights into summer, it is winter here but we hardly get below 5C, so we just complain about the cold as we are not use to it in subtropical Queensland!
Yeah, just a few weeks ago it was 5 C here too. That's our "spring" =)
My big goal for the summer is to learn more about the plants that grow around our summer cabin and how they can be used. I'm also planning to press the flowers and create an herbarium with field notes.
Nice! Try the iNaturalist App, I'm not really into apps, but it REALLY helps with plant ID on the fly.
I hadn't heard of this app, thanks, I'll look into it.
Ashley, do you grow your cattails in a container? I want to add some to our spring-fed pond but hear that they will take over quickly if not contained somehow.
They actually seeded themselves by wind probably around 10 years ago. When we moved here there were none. They have slowly spread across the surface, but only the shallow areas with water less than 18 inches. In years with less rain, their footprint is beat back a bit, so they stay contained on their own (but our pond is rain fed, not spring fed). If your pond is shallow everywhere, they will take over, but it'll take years. They make a lot of seed, so containing a patch in a container wouldn't help control them unless you cut off every seedhead (and then also pulled up any that chance seed from the surrounding area).
Great to know. Thank you!
Liked the Conservation Approach And Natures' Aura(Images) of your writing style, especially because you reflected the positive side...
Beautiful—I miss raising geese. Do you have a recipe for the traditional strawberry preserves?
Jk, found your previous post!