st. patrick's day in the garden

 weeds, weeds and more weeds.  every where you look-more weeds.  

 even the raised beds are full of them.  just look at the zombie garden.  okay, maybe this is what a zombie garden should look like.

 but not the asparagus bed!

 or the square foot bed.

fear not fellow gardeners.  in the horticulture world, they call them winter perennial.  that sounds so much nicer than weeds.  so let's take a closer look at the pesky little plants.

 red dead nettle

in my yard, this plant is always welcome as long as it stays out of the beds and in the lawn.  believe it or not, this is an important nectar source for honeybees in late winter and early spring.

 bitter root

a curious little plant.  see those brown stick like things, they are the mature seeds and they will shoot out like rockets when you brush up against the plant.

 chickweed

aren't they the tiniest blooms!  i am not sure if bees like them but i do know the plant is edible.

 hen bit

and lastly, hen bit.  another important nectar source for honey bees.

irish soda bread was the offering for the day.  come on out and join us some time.