Invasive Species

L-R  Ground Ivy (Creeping Charlie), Milkweed, Lily of the Valley

 The warm weather of the past week brought a spurt of growth to the garden. Iris, poppies, and peonies are developing buds, and a variety of invasive "weeds" are blooming and spreading. Ground ivy, also known as creeping charlie was brought to North America by settlers and had valuable uses as an edible plant and as a source of traditional medicines. The purple funnel shaped flowers are attractive and are of use to wild pollinator insects. But it spreads quickly in places where it is not wanted.  Milkweed is also invasive but is an essential food for Monarch butterfly larvae. I encourage a few plants to grow in the garden to attract butterflies but have to pull out many shoots like the one above growing in my shasta daisies. Lily of the valley are blooming this week and the the flowers have such a lovely scent! After they bloom we will have to pull back new root runners to keep their wild spread in check. 

This afternoon I walked onto our deck and startled a fox in our next door neighbour's backyard. There have been many fox sightings within the city this year which is quite unusual. Their natural habitat is being paved over with new roads and subdivisions all around us and it is not surprising that they are trying to find food in an urban environment. There are plenty of rabbits, voles and squirrels around for the foxes.

A ledge on the ninth floor of the hospital where I work is now home to a pair of Peregrine Falcons and their four chicks. They have been named Care, Faith, Compassion and Discovery after the hospital’s mission and vision. The nest is only visible from the Laboratory Department and access is limited so I cannot see them. The pictures below are from the hospital website and were taken when they were tagged yesterday by members of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. Construction of an addition to the Cardiac Centre is being halted until the nesting season is over. 

Hospital Peregrines, "Care, Faith, Compassion and Discovery"

It is good to allow some naturalization of our urban landscape and to explore ways to live harmoniously with other species of plants, birds and animals. 

I read an excellent book this week by Cal Newport called Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. The author describes how our addiction to technology, particularly social media, keeps us from living intentional and productive lives. Our attention is slivered into small bytes of information (or misinformation) and meaningful relationships and conversations are replaced by shallow extrapersonal interactions. The book offers concrete suggestions that encourage balance, by acknowledging the benefits of technology while not becoming enslaved to it. 

As I prune back the invasive growth in my garden, it reminds me to monitor invasive habits that rob my time, energy and emotional health. I am delighted that the construction project at the hospital is on hold as we respect the rights of the falcons to raise their young in safety. A good life is a balanced life. 

“What we choose to focus on and what we choose to ignore

plays in defining the quality of our life.”

 Cal Newport