Biomass management
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
I’ve been watching the development of this distinctive large plant that’s next to the trail to the compost pretty much since we arrived. I was certain I had a shot looking down at it when it was all curled together at our arrival, but: nope. This was 15 June. Deep red flowers
By 21 June, it was far more unfurled. I have no recollection of ever seeing this species before, here or elsewhere.
Here it is today, mostly shifted to developing-seed mode from flower mode.
Looking this plant up online, it’s common name is houndstongue, and it’s native to Europe and considered one of the worst invasive plants in this state. Geeze. I guess I should whack it tomorrow before the seeds are viable.
I already did some biomass management this morning, clipping the flowers off the hogweed plants in the swamp north of us about 3/4 of a mile. I didn’t have the energy to dig up the plants, which might really get rid of them, but that removal should halt new-plant generation.
Aha. Found it. This was 6 June.