Community in clay

After a day and night of heavy rain, the hybrid Petasites (Petasites hybridus) is making its weird emergence from the mud, accompanied by bits of Lysicachia nummularia and Equisetum arvense. This, along with its cousin Petasites japonica, is repeated in various areas of the garden, and is a major theme plant in several communities of competitive plants. The fallen leaves remain in place because these plants are not daunted by a matted leaf cover. And eventually, the leaves will decay and add organic matter to the heavy clay soil.

This is not a particularly appealing time of year, especially after heavy rain, but in a few weeks the foliage cover will form contrasting bands of shape, texture, and color with the adjacent Darmera peltata, Sagittaria latifolia, and Carex muskengumensis. Actually, the word "shape" doesn't describe the visual effect well, which is more one of contrasting, three-dimensional, geometric forms, not exactly "sculptural" in a traditional sense, but metaphorically so.

I know Petasites is considered a radically invasive plant, but not in my garden. The clay appears to put the brakes on; it actually spreads quite slowly. In a conventional garden, I'd avoid it, but at Federal Twist, I need its aggressive, competitive character. Okay, you're hearing it again ... right plant, right place.

Blue-eyed grass

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) started to appear all over the garden after trees were felled to let in more light. I've read it prefers well drained soils but tolerates seasonal wetness well. It's also a good self-seeder.

This plant is in a very wet spot but it's certainly competing well with other plants: several weed grasses, dandelion, of course, Equisetum arvense, clover, seedling asters, probably other things I can't identify here. Since its numbers increase every year, I'm assuming it will be around for a while.

As all the different plants in the garden continue to grow and increase in number, I imagine what might be happening underground, where their roots are gradually forming a continuous mat that helps seal the ground surface and

prevents more weedy species from getting a foothold. But more competitive species will always find a place. I'll be hand-pulling golden rod for many years to come, I'm sure. And I wonder if I'll ever vanquish the Japanese stilt grass and pasture grasses that make such messy neighbors.

I think the best I can hope for is a kind of balance, a standoff, where I have a slight advantage because I have eyes to see, a brain to discriminate between the winners and the losers, hands to pull. But I won't be around forever. The plants will eventually prevail and do as they want.