by John Graham

Created on: May 14, 2008

Illegal immigrants.

I have tended my garden for many years. I know every plant within its borders and shrubberies personally so that a stranger is immediately noticed.

If I haven't planned a new immigrant or haven't allowed progeny to settle in the open spaces, I am immediately curious when I find a new resident.

Many times they are what is euphemistically called a weed that is an unwanted resident either because it is a plant with undesirable characteristics a dandelion or it has settled in a location that doesn't fit. In both cases the immigrant is summarily evicted.

However, there are immigrants that seem to fill a need.

Johnny-jump-ups are small multi-colored violets that appear to be able to grow and thrive in any location, even in cracks between paving stones and on pebble pathways. They are bright, colorful and persistent. I leave them be for they serve a purpose.

Recently, a lupine appeared where none had been before. There were no lupines in my garden. However, this immigrant was in the right place at the right time and I let it be for two years. Last year it bloomed so proficiently and claimed a beauteous niche in my brain, that this year I bought four companion lupines to complete an entire bed. Only then did I notice that the original immigrant had already spread its wealth wide. Twenty other small plants were already healthily growing in the area.

I grow hundreds of bearded irises so when one bucharica' appeared I knew only that it must have been an illegal immigrant or a returning prodigal child. It has since expanded its niche.

My friend, another keen gardener, this year discovered an arum lily a large plant that produced two perfect blooms. It was an illegal immigrant. "We can only think that some feathered friend has donated it to us" he said.

I know exactly how it happens. I bought the state flower of Colorado, a beautiful full columbine and it has bloomed as well as ever I could have expected. However, it also seemed to attract native columbines slightly smaller versions that have since become illegal immigrants to many other parts of the garden. I am reduced to removing them from unwelcome locations.

I grow herbs: mint, sage, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and others. Apart from mint, which spreads as far as it is permitted (even in my case into the garage) the others become illegal immigrants in any piece of fertile soil their seeds can reach. Oregano in particular has become a weed.

The same is true of any desirable soil. Illegal immigrants will appear.

As I consider my garden, I am drawn to consider the United States an apparently fertile soil surrounded by a host of species, which would love to be immigrants, illegal or otherwise. The United States Government might follow my rules. Dispatch the undesirable species; especially those who want to take over the garden, immediately and without mercy. However, welcome those constructive and contributing immigrants and work with them to enhance our realm.

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