Ralph Waldo Emerson said that a weed is "a plant whose Virtues have not yet been discovered." Here is a plant that we call vetch. It spreads vigorously and takes over any area where it gets a foot hold. We consider it a weed and try to keep it in check.
Part of the bluff along our shoreline is covered with this plant. Having one plant so profusely spread on the bluff seems like a risk. What if this plant fails and the bluff becomes exposed to winter weather? Will there be erosion? How much and how fast? Those are the questions that appear when one plant takes over.
We're pretty sure that a monocultural bluff is not a good idea, so we keep planting wildflower seeds right beside the vetch. Ed cuts the vetch back as much as possible so that other plants have a chance to root and grow on the dry, steep banks along White Rock Shoal.
Still, the vetch is a beauty with its lacy composite leaves and delicate pink violet blossom. It is a lovely weed.
Copyright 2013
Wanda Hayes Eichler
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