She arrived in North America in the 1700s, a deadly predator
with but one desire … to vanquish all other flowering plants.
The skullduggery of this zombie-like invader knew no bounds as
her wily root system would choke out everything in its path.
A true femme fatale of the botanical world with delicate white
flowers and an exhilarating scent, she was toxic to man and beast.
Centuries later, Man still struggles to eradicate Convallaria
Majalis with little success. His once-lush gardens, filled with
Hosta varieties such as Undulata, Stained Glass, Patriot, Neptune
and Guacamole, have dwindled in size. He digs and digs and digs
to remove all evidence of her rhizomes, then burns the debris
while Lily of the Valley lurks in the shadows.
Carole Novak
Indian Head Park
Oak Park Writers Group (OPWG)