Never know what will sprout...

Last year violets exploded all over my garden. I have no idea where they came from, but they arrived.

I wasn't able to deal with them last year as birds were nesting in the thick of them, and I didn't want to disturb them.

This year, there are even more, and the birds have yet to nest.

When I say they are everywhere.. they are everywhere, in the plant areas, on my pathway and between the slats of our deck.

Seedlings everywhere

I didn't really relish the thought of pulling them out one by one, but as I weighed my options, that felt like the most friendly option.

I was thinking about using boiling water or vinegar, but I became concerned about all the life living beneath the surface and didn't want to chance killing off bugs.

So I got myself outside, put on some meditation music and got to pulling. It was so pleasant, kicked of my shoes as I sat and at time laid on the deck, pulling out seedlings one by one.

Our neighbourhood murder of crows was pretty curious, and I had an audience of 3 the time I was out there. Gradually other birds came into the garden and began their pleasant chirping. The sun would come peek out from between the clouds every once in a while and give me some warmth before hiding away again.

Some of those little bugs I was concerned about also made an appearance, ants, spiders, and other little creatures.

As I was out there, connected to the ground, listening to the sounds around me, I felt calm and relaxed. I did feel some remorse at plucking out all the little plants, but there are plenty more, I will keep some, knowing that this activity is going to be an annual thing.

It really was a pleasant moment, and a reminder that sometimes doing things with more effort, really can provide some beautiful moments.

First round, 90 mins of work.

One area done

Still many more to pull.

If they were native to Oregon, I would leave more of them to do their thing, but as they are not, into my compost they go.

Violets I think are edible so, I could actually eat them as micro greens, but not  chancing it, as they are just seedlings, there's a chance they are something else. So they can nourish my garden instead.