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Old 04-05-2008, 05:21 PM
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Default Couch grass is useful ...

Couch grass is a major host of this lovely butterfly, the Speckled Wood. I had a female visit me today on the lottie. UK Butterflies - Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria
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Old 04-05-2008, 06:17 PM
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Don't tell me that....I'll start to feel bad about weeding!!!!
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Old 04-05-2008, 07:16 PM
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OK, I'm all for helping the wildlife, but would the butterflies be happy with a small (VERY SMALL) patch? I'm desperately trying to get rid of the couch on my plot and also the thick soft stuff (Yorkshire something?) - makes big clumps, very hard to dig out.
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Old 04-05-2008, 08:01 PM
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Yorkshire pudding????

Mine was all stuck to the bottom of the pan tonight - not enough oil used.
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Old 04-05-2008, 08:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zazen999 View Post
Yorkshire pudding????

Mine was all stuck to the bottom of the pan tonight - not enough oil used.
Hehehee that made me laugh that did!!!
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Old 04-05-2008, 10:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rustylady View Post
OK, I'm all for helping the wildlife, but would the butterflies be happy with a small (VERY SMALL) patch? I'm desperately trying to get rid of the couch on my plot and also the thick soft stuff (Yorkshire something?) - makes big clumps, very hard to dig out.
Yorkshire fog (Holcus Lanatus)..........a beautiful grass in the right setting!
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Old 05-05-2008, 08:18 AM
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well there you go... every day is a school day. I never heard of Yorkshire Fog, but I see it all the time. "common in neglected gardens" hee hee.
Rusty, you could also have Holcus Mollis, which also has soft leaves, but spreads by creeping rhizomes. You'll have to let it flower, then you can tell the difference. Or not.
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Old 05-05-2008, 09:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zazen999 View Post
Yorkshire pudding????

Mine was all stuck to the bottom of the pan tonight - not enough oil used.
My yorkshire pud was yum! Almost filled the plate though!

Opened this thread with intriguement (is this a word?) as we have loads of couch grass. Not sure I can bring myself to keep any for the sake of a butterfly though, especially since I haven't seen any showing any interest, but I have seen my babiest cat show a keen interest in butterflies!
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Old 05-05-2008, 01:34 PM
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Oh yeah - couch grass; rotten stuff. If I put my love of butterflies and my hatred of couch grass on an old fashioned balance, the hatred wins...sorry.

I'll leave the butterflies to other lotties, and try and attract them in with some lovely companion planting.
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Old 05-05-2008, 09:10 PM
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No butterfly interest in my couch grass either, also loathe the stuff, I battle to get rid of it on the allotment and it just keeps on creeping out from the allotment paths and from underneath the hedge.
I've kept a patch of nettles and no butterflies on that either.
Still, I've gone mad on the flowers this year and hoping for some butterfly visitors.
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Old 05-05-2008, 09:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Two_Sheds View Post
Couch grass is a major host of this lovely butterfly, the Speckled Wood. I had a female visit me today on the lottie. UK Butterflies - Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria

TS, you'll have to tell me the secret, I never get beautiful females visiting me on the veg patch, even OH seems strangely reticent about wielding a garden fork when needed
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