By the Side of the Road

Today we trekked to Aberdeen so I can begin the fun process of becoming toothless (dentures on the horizon). As we drove north on Highway 101, we kept noticing the same plant which features a dazzling display of yellow flowers. "Ooh, maybe we could add that to our native garden," my wife suggested. I stopped along the side of the road to get a sample plant -- something we could use with our native plant reference guide.



It turns out that this plant -- Scotch Broom -- will not be finding a home in our garden because it is classified both as a noxious weed AND an invasive species. It seems that it is prevalent along Washington highways because the highway department put it there before realizing how destructive the plant can be.

According to the National Park Service, Scotch broom is a "bad" plant because:

• Scotch broom is a prodigious seed producer. The seeds have hard coats enabling them to survive in the environment for up to 80 years.
• The seeds are transported from place to place in mud stuck to vehicles, equipment, shoes and the feet of animals.
• Seeds may be carried via runoff from roads into streams and gullies. Then seedlings may establish along stream sides and along gully walls.
• Scotch broom forms dense brush fields over six feet tall.
• The brush fields distract from appreciation of the natural landscapes of the Bald Hills prairies.
• The brush fields diminish habitat for grazing animals, such as the native Roosevelt Elk.
• Areas of dense brush shade out and kill native grassland plants in invaded areas, and favor invasion by other woody, non-grassland plant species.
• Scotch broom is a threat to the integrity of the Bald Hills prairie ecosystem.