May 8th Along Hiway 30
Yesterday was the perfect day for a doctoring trek to Vancouver and back. It was one of those not-a-cloud-in-the-sky days. The deciduous trees have leafed out, the cow parsnips are beginning to bloom and the Scotch Broom is in all its bright yellow glory.
The ‘broom’ made me think of my dad and his “hay fever” that erupted each year about this time. It was in the days before we spoke of “allergies” and he attributed his sneezing attacks to almost anything that was in bloom, but he said the beauty of the Scotch Broom was worth it.
Even calling it ‘Scotch’ rather than “Scot’s Broom” reminds me of my dad. He always said we were “Scotch, Irish, and English.” I remember being quite mystified (and then offended) when some smart-ass college friend asked me if I was partly distilled and told me in a know-it-all sort of way that being a Scot was different from being Scotch. I still consider myself Scotch, Irish and English, and I continue to call it Scotch-with-a-ch Broom.
May 8th Along Highway 30
It must pain many others besides myself that Scotch Broom is listed as both an invasive species and a noxious weed in many places. I’ve come to that conclusion because there doesn’t seem to be any consisted eradication program for the plant, at least not around here. I think I’m glad about the plant being allowed to proliferate, despite my inherited tendency toward itchy eyes and a tickly nose at this time of year. My dad was right. The gorgeous display along the roadsides and in the fields yesterday definitely offset a few sneezes and wheezes!
Mm. Were it confined to highway medians I wouldn’t mind, or if it didn’t make my youngest miserable, OR if it didn’t cause misery AND bloomed year round, but the plant is not attractive most of the year. My father, who considered himself Scotch-Irish, thought some ols Scot had been rather mean to start the stuff here. Heather is so much nicer. And Frieze is a German name, but with WWII it was not talked about!