Weed Management

I had never given weeds a second thought before moving to Montana. In the landscape/garden center business, weeds were an inconvenience in a lawn or flower bed that needed eradicating. Simple enough. As county agent in Montana, as soon as the snow melts, weeds take center stage in my work. Phone calls asking how to control them, office visits to identify them, farm calls to help educate on over grazing and hay inspections to insure that weeds do not get into the wilderness areas we cherish. Invasive species threaten to make grazing impossible for livestock, clog the waterways and overtake native vegetation.

As I walk Aries each evening along our dirt road, I have decided to take on the weeds that are doing their best to encroach into our territory. I removed the flowers from the houndstongue a week or so ago. These attractive blossoms will mature into the cockleburs that stick to clothes, dogs and deer in an effort to proliferate across the region. Yesterday, I started on the thistle. Along the shoulder are both bull-thistle and the Canadian thistle. I used my long handled loppers to reach past their thorny protection to cut them off at the base. Each flower will produce thousands of seeds if not eliminated. I was feeling a sense of accomplishment until I came to an enormous patch on a hillside below an old garage. Thistles in all sizes and stages poked up through the long grass. I started at the base of the hill and hacked away at each enemy one at a time. The feeling of futility began descending over me as I reviewed my progress. That is when I thought of what I recommend to all my clients. "Think in terms of a weed management plan." It may take years to actually eliminate all the weeds. It takes time and perseverance, patience and commitment. It is a process. There is no "silver bullet." The seed bank for some of these weeds may stay viable for 20 years. Just when you think you have them licked, a stalk appears to your dismay. "Stay with it." Do the best you can a little at a time.

I changed my strategy for that patch. I set my attention on taking out the largest plants that were closest to blossoming. I will remain vigilant of that area. I will take out each successive generation as it pokes up through the grass. It is a process.

This awareness brought me back to a situation I am dealing currently with in my life. I am always looking to know myself on a deeper and deeper level. A book was suggested to me that I read last week. I saw things about me that rocked my sense of Self. I will delve into the particulars in a future post but in brief a quality that I had been raised to value, I realized was actually detrimental to my relationships. Helping too much, working too hard and self sacrificing can be damaging to true intimacy. What is ironic, is that these traits were applauded in my family and were a a major building block of my identity. When I considered who I was in the world without these actions, I had no idea. I had to start all over and allow new understandings to enter my consciousness. This path of self discovery is a process. As I ask the Universe for more awareness and more insight, it is shown to me. It is not always pleasant. Growing pains can hurt sometimes. There is no silver bullet. There is no instant enlightenment. I am accepting that I will always be watchful of weeds that poke up in my meadow. I have a seed bank of over 50 years that is sure to germinate when the time is right. I will stay mindful and accept them with gratitude as the means to go even deeper into my self exploration. I may never completely eradicate all the weeds but I have a management plan.

Weeds

In my profession as extension agent I am asked questions about weeds every day. Residents tell me they have weeds in their lawns, weeds in their pastures, weeds in their driveways and gardens. They've tried pulling and spraying but they still have a problem. Once they get rid of one weed, another type invades. I ask them to tell me what they want there. In a perfect world, what do they see growing there? Is it a pasture of grass and alfalfa, a long expanse of groomed turf or bursts of showy flowers? It is one thing to eliminate a problem but if you leave the soil bare and just hope that something beneficial will establish itself there without any assistance, you'll just end up with another problem. Something will grow there for sure; it will be what can out-compete anything else. This is most certainly an invasive weed. You must be willing to plant and nurture what you do want, to help it be successful.

When we look at our lives and the people around us, do we ever take a moment to think about what we see? Do we see problems, obstacles, disappointments? Is it weeds or is it what we envisioned? What are we actively doing to create the life we dreamed? What are we planting? How are we caring for it?

There are people who feel haunted by their situations and feel there are no other options. They are unwilling to cultivate their hearts desire. They don't like the weeds but the just don't want to do what it takes to produce a beautiful alternative. It takes effort and intention. It takes focus and energy to make things happen. Sometimes there is a price to pay. Sometimes there is discomfort and inconvenience.

If you are not willing to do what it takes to bring about a beneficial change, become satisfied with the weeds, for that is all that will grow.