The bane of my life in the garden now

[Catname]

Sycamore seedlings. Thousands of them!

I’ve only tackled the ones in the flowerbeds but I’ve pulled out loads, and then I go back the next day and there are more, and more, and more. They are quite easy to pull out when it’s just the seed leaves but once they develop the first proper leaf, they get such a hold, and I’m doing it by hand as I want to see which of my lovely plants has self seeded (as I cannot grow anything from seed myself it would seem). I’m concerned that the ones in the lawn will get a good hold before it’s dry enough to cut the grass and then I’ll have a forest 🥴

Does anyone else have a plant they despise as much as I do sycamores?

I don't mind my Spanish Bluebells (although I'd prefer native, I didn't plant them). I don't mind anything that has pretty flowers so long as it doesn't completely take over (here's looking at you ground elder). I don't mind herb robert, celandines or creeping buttercups.

I have mixed feelings about my Spanish Bluebells. I know they are an intruder plant, but mine came from my parents' garden, which came from my grandmother's garden, which had previously been great grandma's garden. I feel sad about pulling them up, but I haven't planted any in the DS's garden.
At the moment I have primroses and cowslips which have spread like wildfire in the garden. I think the primroses and cowslips came in with turf I purchased.

Possibly outing but I once won a legal case due to bluebells. They could be seen at the very back of a photo which was allegedly taken in late July.

You are Miss Marple and I claim my £5.

You are so lucky to have cowslips. I am old enough to remember a field filled with them , and I am ashamed to say we picked a bunch to take home. Autre temps …………

Likely native, then. Check that the flower stems bend over to one side when the flowers are fully open, that they have cream not blue anthers (the pollen holding bits), that the leaves are less than finger width. And they should by fragrant. The hybrids have no scent

I’d be pretty happy that that’s native

Don't get the wrong idea- I love the primroses and cowslips, they are not the bane of my garden, but they are in the beds and the grass. I have dug up loads and given them away as well.
Primroses are interesting- I think they might have cross pollinated with some primulas the children bought when they were young, as I have a few coloured ones, which I am sure don't match the ones they gave me.
The cowslips are mown around very carefully.

I would like to add cotoneaster seedlings to my naughty list. They are coming up everywhere, not just under the blackbird's favourite perches.
Also, pine trees. I feel bad pulling these up and try to transplant into the woods rather than just compost, but there are so many.

I have a ton of cowslips also - and I love them! Plusmive established them at my allotment site. I've happily given many a clump and a pack of seed away to anyone who shows interest! It's fascinating to see the variation in colour, although I swear that the bees prefer the standards.

Lots and lots of lords and ladies in my garden this year. I don't mind them and they are easy enough to dig out.

I think Herb Robert is very pretty. I know it spreads and has taken over any bits of the gravel drive the dandelions haven’t claimed, but it’s leaves are so delicate and the flowers are lovely, so I don’t mind a bit.

Bindweed is a pain in the veg patch but I don’t mind it in the hedge. The flowers look so nice against the privet leaves.

They’re pretty promiscuous. You’ll certainly get hybridisation between the cowslips and primroses, and if the “primulas” that your children bought were coloured primroses or polyanthas (rather than, say, Primula vialii, or candelabra primulas or drumstick primulas) then those will be in the mix too

Cotoneaster are becoming a problem in the wild too.

Does anyone know what this is? It’s absolutely all over my front lawn

It looks like an Epimedium

Or a dense growth of sycamore seedlings - I think I can convince myself that there is a sycamore cotyledon bottom right.

I think you're right (as usual!). Bottom right is a giveway.

I don’t mind them but has anyone else noticed a proliferation of dandelions this year. Driving back from West Wales last week the fields were bright yellow and a gardening friend was complaining about them yesterday.

I've noticed loads of Alexander growing along the paths and verges in Norfolk around Easter. I know it's not a rare plant and it's been a few years since I've been to East Anglia at that time but it seemed very prolific. Also lots in North Wales. Perhaps it's just austerity/covid/green schemes stopping the LAs mowing as much?

Loving the dandelions. Have left plenty for the bees but still used leaves in tea and cooking,and made dandelion "honey" from the flowers. Also dandelion shortbread.

Ooh, shortbread.....?

Spanish bluebells and ground elder