GARDEN TRASH OR TREASURES

It has been said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.(Is that a pithicism?) This spring we have a lot of what others call trashy plants in our yard, but I prefer to think of them as treasures.

The sweet smell of honeysuckle is everywhere . . . by the kitchen door, hovering over the drive, encircling the back fence. It’s probably giving everyone hay fever but it’s worth it and it won’t last long.

This common plant may be my all-time favorite. It’s called mountain laurel and grows in abundance along the eastern seaboard and in the Great Smoky Mountains. I don’t think it is supposed to grow here but mine seems to love sitting by our front door and sends up the most delectable sweet fragrance.

There are lots of varieties of Laurel, my next favorite being English Laurel which sends out spiky white blooms in the spring and then loads up with black berries that the birds love. It is very hardy, dense, and can be used as a hedge or privacy screen.

Last but not least ‒  the trashiest of all ‒ the super invasive trumpet vine ‒ but ya gotta love how it draws hummingbirds and bees. I try to keep it under control but it isn’t easy. It tries to hide in the spirea and orange blossom bushes and wants to crawl up the house. Still, it is great on fences and telephone poles. Hard to resist.

 If you have a chance and don’t mind getting out the clippers, give these persistent pests a try.

They are well worth the effort.