Bamboo

No, this photo isn't from a visit to Asia. It was from a visit to the county seat. These were taken behind the building that was the main library at the time. I don't know the name of this type of bamboo, but I do know that it is very invasive and hard to control once it gets a foothold. We have two different types of bamboo in our yard but neither one is invasive. One is called Nandina and it is a lovely plant with no compunction to spread out. The other isn't either, but I'm not too hot on it.

There was a veritable forest of the stuff. To get a shot like this, you walk around with your head looking straight up through the camera until you see something you like. But, watch your step.  I'm just kidding. I always wanted to try a shot like this and it seemed like a pretty good place to try the technique out.

So many environmental problems in this country are caused by invasive species from other countries for which there are no natural checks. The list is long and the clean-up expensive. Think kudzu that threatens to eat the south; zebra muscles that clog up intakes along waterways; Snakehead fish that eat up all our native gamefish; phragmites that threaten to turn marshes along the east coast into a monoculture. That is to name just four.  There are hundreds more.

If we would be responsible, it behooves us to make sure we are not aiding and abetting some of these invasive, non-native plants in our yards. Another species that is a problem here in Maryland (who would have thought) is periwinkle which can get loose in woodlands and overwhelm the native plants. I use that as an example because I never would have suspected it was a problem. So a little research before planting might be in order.