This afternoon, while wandering around my garden, I came across this enchanting sight within the wild rose hedge at the edge of our woods.
The plants seen here are Rosa multiflora, a highly invasive species, one of the Top 10 Undesirables here in South Carolina for its aggressive way of claiming the land and setting up an impenetrable thicket that allows no natives root room. I probably shouldn’t love this wild foreign rose with its very bad manners.
And yet I do.
I look forward to the bloom season of this invader, knowing I’ll see thousands of charming clusters of single-flowered roses dangling from long arching canes almost everywhere I go for two weeks at the end of April and the beginning of May. It’s a pleasure to see the froth of creamy blooms outside my bedroom window first thing in the morning, to let my gaze roam along the wild hedge while I do dishes, looking out the kitchen window.
I’ve harvested some of its millions of bright red hips as the growing season winds down, and I’m not the only one happy to partake of this undeserved bounty. Birds and chipmunks munch on the nutritious red hips, too, the whole winter long.
Last fall, I was charmed to discover two tiny nests deep within the maze of canes, once the foliage dropped and I could peer within the labyrinth. This year, I’m almost certain a pair of goldfinches is nesting within its tangled, green canopy. When threatened by predators, small songbirds often retreat into its thorny, protective embrace, as well.
Rosa multiflora in my backyard is a source of food, shelter, sanctuary, and beauty. But really, knowing what I know, I should probably be petitioning the landlord to rip it out immediately. That would be the kindest decision to make on behalf of the land here.
At least, it would be if I could ensure that native flora would take its place. Unfortunately, that’s not really a safe bet around here. As like as not, one of the many other non-native invasives in the area would take hold. Perhaps wisteria, nandina, mimosa, ivy, or even the dreaded kudzu. They all tend to do very well in disturbed spots with sun, like the edge of the woods here. I frankly don’t know if I could handle knowing the hickories and oaks and tall, slender pines were going to be strangled to death (wisteria) or slowly starved of sunlight (kudzu) because of a decision I made, even if it was the ecologically responsible decision to make.
I don’t know what I should do.
This Earth Day, then, a recognition that hey, it’s complicated out there. It’s not always — or even often — simple to know which is the right choice to make in our increasingly environmentally compromised world. And once you’ve made your choice, to make the changes required in our own landscapes and lives isn’t a simple task, either.
As Kermit the Frog would say, “It’s not easy being green.”
I honor those of you who are continuing to ask yourself what you can do to make a difference, nonetheless. Let’s all keep educating ourselves and doing the footwork of getting to know and love our places, both the land and the community, well enough to make these hard decisions when they confront us. Let’s not be tempted to give up when the choices are hard, when the follow-up is hard.
Above all, let’s take heart.
Namasté, y’all.
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I agree…it is complicated to be green. Sometimes a choice we think is the most ecological may not be… depending on where we live or the particular time. And then there are those who believe they must do everything as green as possible. Even in nature, there are very few extremes. Balance seems to be the norm. Nonetheless, I think it is a worthwhile struggle. You made your points so eloquently!
I think ‘starting from now’ I will not do more damage is my philosophy, because what was native in yesteryear might still not be, even without or hands in the mix. What is here today I accept as if today were Day #1, and from each day forward I will try not to let my hand be the one to stand in the way of nature. As you say, its complicated out there.
Have a Happy Easter Meredith!
Jess´s last blog ..The Sound And The Fury
You are back.
Nice to see you.
As always your words express love of Earth
and many of my feelings…”every day is earth day”
What a lovely leaf heart.
Enjoy the renewal of this season
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It is complicated, Meredith. Communities all around the part of Pennsylvania where I teach have planted pear trees as street trees. In the spring, when the pear trees bloom, the streets are these beautiful tunnels made of white pear blossoms. I look forward so much to those pear trees blooming. But the self-same pear trees have turned out to be invasive aliens that are taking over wooded areas and out-competing native plants. And this was an outcome that no one saw coming. The Bradford Pear trees were supposed to be sterile, not capable of spreading beyond where they were planted; but in breeding them to solve some other problems, the plant breeders inadvertently bred reproductive ability back in.
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Lovely post Meredith.
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You’ve hit directly on one of the complications of trying to live “green.” Humans mean well, but we seem to muck it up when we try to help nature. I guess we just keep learning, keep trying in small ways to make things better, and hope for the best!
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We just have to keep on trying and learning, and trying to educate others, too, but it is not a simple path to take.
Pomona x
Amen. It is TOTALLY complicated!
Hello Meredith, of all the weeds I would struggle to dispatch it would be a rose species! I too would be captivated by their lovely little single petalled flowers
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I’ve missed you, your wonderful prose and beautiful photos. A few years ago, R. multiflora showed up outside my garden’s edge. I believe it was the grafted base for a rose which had long ago died. I cut it back some, but didn’t think much about it until my roses got rose rosette which is a virus. Often, it’s called Rose AIDS. Now, I’ve eradicated the R. multiflora, and I watch to see if I’ll lose anything else. If it weren’t for this, the multiflora would still be here.
It is so difficult being green even when you know what you’re doing. Like I wrote, I’ve missed you.~~Dee
Not having a green thumb and just room for pots makes it even more complicated, but I love even my small successes. And I try to contribute to the earth just a bit by buying organic as much as I can. My salad yesterday was entirely organic and it made me so happy to think about that while I was eating it.
Lovely, lovely post, as always, my friend.
Lynn´s last blog ..Earth Day- A Taste of Honey and heirlooms
So very very true, Meredith – earth day is every day.
I can’t wait until the garden awakens…it’s a slow process this year, but one I never fail to find absolutely delightful and inspirational.
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Wonderful post…what to do…the decisions are not easy but we consider all the points and act in the best interest…
Well, as the saying goes, ‘first do no harm’. I agree, sometimes it’s best to accept the lesser of the known evils. I have that trouble here. Crimson clover, or invasive brome. The clover smothers the brome, and is easier to control in reseeding. If cut down at the right time, the clover even returns nutrients to soil as a green manure. Neither however are optimal, but I’m not confident I can succeed in squashing the brome. It isn’t easy being green, and it is complicated out there! On the upside, you appreciate the rose blooms, and the finches seem grateful for the protective cover, so it’s not all bad. A belated happy earth day to you!
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Clearly great minds think alike (wrt your title).
It’s not always easy being green! Kermit had that right.
Elizabeth´s last blog ..every day is earth day
Meredith,
I enjoyed this post and appreciated your dilemma. I have same problem in my yard. A gardener friend keeps telling me that I have this invasive plant that should come down, but it’s so pretty and, like you said, a source of protection for many birds. So, I leave it up with a semi-guilty conscious. Then again, it’s hard for me to choose between my plants and my birds.
I loved the video. I assume that petal is spinning at end of some spider web? Whatever, it was a great video. The things you find in your yard are always amazing. Thanks for sharing this:~)
Sara´s last blog ..Story Photo- What’s the story
So glad to see you back. Hope all goes well. Looking forward to sharing your new garden, when it happens.
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Each day is every day.I love this.It’s we had to call all people to protect our enviroment.Love your photos
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