Puccoon

This flower looks better than its name sounds. You’ll find Puccoon blooming in the Lethbridge Nature Parks in mid-May. If you miss seeing it bloom, head up to Waterton Lakes National Park (it blooms a little later in the year there). The Puccoon was still blooming in Waterton when I was there on June 6, 2023.

I have typed up and included my poem, Eco Lawn, below. I don’t know how many people will see the term “eco lawn” as a joke (I’m not partial to wasting garden space with a lawn). James loves having a little lawn in the front. He’s out there watering it often.

He probably doesn’t think I mow it often enough (he can’t do it himself since his back is in bad shape – compression fractures from multiple myeloma). He really works hard caring for his lawn. He even weeds his dandelions by hand. I’d rather have a field of Puccoon out front of my house than a lawn. Whatever.

Since James and I have been hiking so often, long prairie grass seems natural and beautiful. Mowed lawn seems less attractive (and a waste of maintenance time I’d rather spend hiking). I guess the urban community likes lawns, though. Green, mown lawns keep the neighbors happier than a field of Puccoon.

Both James and I like hiking and seeing the native plants blooming. We’ll have fun looking for Puccoon in the Lethbridge Coulees and then near Red Rock Canyon (Waterton Lakes National Park) together and then he can have fun at home with his lawn.

Eco Lawn

Though Blue Grass music’s awfully fun,

a fescue’s a much better one

(than Blue Grass) in our droughty town,

so don’t buy sod, just cast seed down.

Then rake it in to cover it

and water, water, quite a bit

until it’s well established there.

Though early on it needs great care,

once it’s established, it’s a breeze

and you can care for it with ease.

Don’t bag the clippings from your lawn

or rake them up; just leave them on

so that they’ll decompose away

and feed the grass roots where they lay –

that’s where those nutrients belong.

Don’t mow grass short, let grass grow long –

it keeps soil moist (because it’s cool).

If you mow short, then you’re a fool

since long grass outcompetes the weeds

(as long as you have met its needs).

Most fescue’s soft for laying on –

to sunbathe on your eco lawn.

If you want to have a healthy eco lawn, it is important to remember that “eco” doesn’t mean “let the weeds grow wild”. There is nothing “green” about increasing the population of invasive species. You will get on top of the weeds if you nip them in the flower bud (weed them out before they set seed). You will not get on top of the weeds by letting them set seed.

NOTE: The scheduled Poetry in the Park hike to Bertha Lake on June 13th, 2023 is still a go. If you would like to join us on a free hike, just show up at the trailhead at 8 AM. We will be there whether you are or not. We don’t stay away from a Waterton hike unless there’s a 60% chance of rain (or over 60 km wind speeds).