Hello Franklin! Did you recognize last week's mystery native, perhaps because it grows in the cracks of your driveway, or between the mulch and the curb of the grocery store parking lot?
This plant is called spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) and if you grow anything at all out-of-doors in New England, then you have likely plucked out this plant as a weed.
This is what it looks like when spotted spurge is left to its own devices for a few months. It grows absolutely flat against the ground, and has a lovely tinge of purple to its stems and leaves. Spurge is an annual plant that flourishes in hot, dry conditions that kill everything else.
I am a bit baffled as to why every source considers this plant to be just a weed, worthy only of killing, and I am currently leaving it to grow in parts of my garden to see how it does as a groundcover. So far it has been great! It was one of the only plants that didn't seem to suffer during the drought.
Just for fun, here is a closer look. This plant is in bloom. There they are: each flower is barely a millimeter across.
And here is next week's flower. Do you know what it is?
Feel free to post your guesses in the comments section here. Cheers!
Michelle Clay writes about gardening here in Franklin at the Clueless Gardeners Blog.
Franklin, MA
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Saturday, August 28, 2010
In the News - house fire, Tom Rush
Families lose homes in Franklin fire
from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley, Daily News staffFRANKLIN BRIEF: Circle of Friends presents an evening with Tom Rush
from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.
Franklin, MA
Friday, August 27, 2010
Farmers Market - today - noon to 6:00 PM
"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day."
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/hardertheycome/icanseeclearlynow.htm
The Farmers Market will be open on the Town Common today from noon - 6:00 PM.
Franklin, MA
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day."
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/hardertheycome/icanseeclearlynow.htm
The Farmers Market will be open on the Town Common today from noon - 6:00 PM.
Franklin, MA
In the News - attempted murder, house fire
Franklin teen charged with attempted murder
from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staffHouse catches fire in Franklin
from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.
Franklin, MA
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Attn: Business Owners - Training Grant Money Available!
How to Stop Eating Crap to Stop Feeling Like Crap
This "Howcast" is one of a series on healthy eating.
What do you need?
You Will Need
The Franklin Food Pantry website can be found here: http://franklinfoodpantry.org/
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video.
What do you need?
You Will Need
Portion-size guide
Vegetables and fruit
Whole grains
Healthy drinks
Restraint
Grass-fed beef (optional)
The Franklin Food Pantry website can be found here: http://franklinfoodpantry.org/
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video.
EPA Storm water proposal information
Reminder that the last informational meeting for the proposed storm water permit process will be held today in Milford.
A summary of the storm water permit process can be viewed here:
2010 08 18 Summary of RDA Storm Water General Permit
The presentation used for the Aug 18, 2010 information meeting can be found here:
EPA Information Meeting – August 18, 2010_HANDOUTS
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to view the documents on Franklin Matters.
Franklin, MA
Thursday, August 26, at 10:00 AM at the Physician's Conference Room (First Floor) in the Milford Regional Medical Center, located at 14 Prospect Street, Milford. Free parking is available at the Cancer Center, directly across the street from the Hospital, on Prospect Street
A summary of the storm water permit process can be viewed here:
2010 08 18 Summary of RDA Storm Water General Permit
The presentation used for the Aug 18, 2010 information meeting can be found here:
EPA Information Meeting – August 18, 2010_HANDOUTS
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to view the documents on Franklin Matters.
Franklin, MA
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