Plantain - shun
Ever wonder what that long leaved plantain was in your lawn. To you it might be a weed but for me it is my lawn. Or should I just say I have an English Plantation?
I kind of like the look but it drives the wife mad looking at it. Now that I’m thinking of it maybe I’ll go and disconnect the spark plug or something on the mower.
English Plantain
Plantago lanceolata
Not your Common Plantain.
The leaves are longer than the more rounded common variety. Flower spikes put the common plantain to shame too. These have style while in comparison the common aren’t much more than a stick in the mud..
But it still deserves the reputation as a weed. Like it or not plantians are a pest both in the lawn and garden. I suffer mine since only the hardiest plants will survive in my ‘wasteplace’. Besides when mowed the yard looks like there’s a ‘lawn’ (from a distance)
So before the mad mower gets loose here’s one last photo of my plantation.
…and that’s only a small view of my vast plantain estate.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Plantains are the host plant of the Buckeye butterfly. That’s why there are so many in my garden - that’s my story anyway. If it wasn’t for weeds I’d have no lawn.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:38 am
It’s a look. The flowers are actually rather nice. I have to get rid of it’s plainer cousin because I’m allergic to the pollen.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I need to go to a refresher course on genus and species! For some reason, I thought Plantains were bananas.
Aiyana
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Green is almost alwasy good, plainain or not! I was checking out some of your earlier posts and love the garden pond and reflecting pond posts. The stone work is incredible! I love water features and cats. What’s your kitties name? My step daughter came to see what I was up do and she let out a big ahhh when she saw him.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:27 am
Hey,
I was just admiring that weed a month or so ago in the alley behind my house. It is really cool and the flower looks like rocket ship or something to me.
Anyway thanks for the comment and thanks for the well wishes.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Eat it. It’s quite good for you. Put it in a tossed salad and add your favorite salad dressing:-) With the economy the way it is, we may all be eating our lawns soon.
Marnie
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I’m guessing you did not drive to western mass for the garden tour last week. You don’t ned to a garden tour tho. If you ever do come out this way to gather stones from the cold river let me know. Ill show you the garden and get you some lunch in town.
So, my fence is finally done…drop by and see.
Carol
terranovadesign.blogspot.com