Deer and not-so-dear

Photo by Alan Kearney 3/25/2015

Photo by Marty Horowitz 3/25/2015

White-tailed deer? Very nice. Entire field of London Rocket (Sisymbrium irio)? Not so much. This year, the London Rocket (from Europe) became a problem in several areas in Sabino Canyon. It's a nice enough mustard family plant (and the leaves are great in salads), but not when it takes over, crowds out the natives, and grows taller than a deer. Yikes.
A team of Rocket-men and -women took out this invasive in the dam area on 4/9/2015. It was more fun than being in London!
Next year, we'll have to pull as soon as we see the foliage come up, in order to get the plants out before they flower and prevent their copious seeds from forming. I'll let you know about it : -)