EPISODE 408 MYSTERY PLANT IN OUR GARDEN

alan skeoch

august 15, 1021

Our garden is out of control.  I have been reading about the Carboniferous era in 

geologic history 265 million years ago when the earth was hot and giant 

plants covered the globe.  I became a bit distracted until today when

I got back to the garden.  What a sight.   Some strange plant has taken over.

Huge leaves and snarly tendrils have crowded  out the pepper plants. But

The tomato plants are still in place gleefully producing tomatoes under 

the umbrella leaves of the mystery plant. 

strange.

Weeds can usually out compete the garden plants and by mid-august we

sort of give up after rescuing dozens cucumbers and other assorted vegetables.

We rescued nearly a bushel  of red tomatoes cooling themselves under

the great umbrella leaves of the mystery plant whose tendrils are now,

as I write, heading for the barn.

Two weeks ago we thought we were about to have a bumper crop of cucumbers.

Then these big yellow flowers began to appear beneath leaves the size of ash can lids.  The cucumbers gave up the battle.

Surprisingly the tomatoes are just fine after I slashed my way through to them

Under those leaves something big is growing.   getting bigger. each day…and it is not alone…six, eight ten of them inflating like hot air 

balloons.   Taking over 

We will  keep you posted.   Meanwhile I recommend you find a copy of John Windham’s great science fiction novel ‘Day of the Triffids’

in which a mysterious plant from outer space began to take over the world.   I think we have a Triffid in our garden.