What I've learned from my parents

Of the many, many important life lessons I have learned from my parents, ranking high near the top of the list is some gardening lessons learned. Never, never, EVER, under any circumstances, plant ivy.

I was probably 10 when my parents planted ivy in the back yard, and also at the rockery along the front walkway. I remember at one time there were these pretty little white flowers there, but maybe they were actually weeds. Whatever the reason, they had to go and ivy had to come in.

Now, the ivy has taken over half the backyard, and parts of the neighbors' yards as well. It's crazy stuff, with a fair amount of blackberry mixed in there. E and I worked for a couple hours today at getting some of it out, and cleared maybe 10 feet. Many, many more work parties to go to get rid of it. I actually saw some listed on Craigslist a couple weeks ago. Some guy was trying to get other people to come get his ivy "for free". Whatever dude, we're on to you, and you're going to have to work hard to be rid of it just like everyone else. No one wants your "free" ivy.

So lesson learned: ivy=evil, so don't ever plant it anywhere.