Wild Garlic

We have a huge clump of something which I thought was either more dreaded Lords and Ladies (beatiful but I worry because of the kids) or Lilly of the Valley. I thought it was some kind of weed coming to squat in the garden.

As my husband walked up the garden path tonight he thought he could smell the delicate scents of french cuisine wafting down the garden, and quickened his pace slightly to see what his wife was preparing for the family meal tonight.

But alas... poor devil, the smell got fainter as he got nearer the kitchen, and the smell of chicken burgers took over :hehe:

Turns out I have now identified the clump as wild garlic.

I am a little concerned because I saw someone ( I am afraid I can't remember who) posting on here that it is a nightmare to get rid of. I have no problem with it being there, infact I might try and cook with it, but just wondered in what way it can be a problem.

Is it just that it spreads? Or some reason a little more sinister?!

I haven't noticed any vampires lately!!!?

 

It spreads, so de-head them. Leaves can be used in salads.

 

And Lords and Ladies are no more of a problem for children than any other berried plant, in fact a lot less. You need to consume a large number of the berries for them to make you ill and one is more than anyone could ever manage to consume. They are reputed to be like eating needles and the mouth closes up so you cannot swallow. Not something I feel children would do too often!
Round up will eventually kill off Wild garlic.

 

That's very interesting! I thought they were extremely poisonous, and given that the kids ball gets kicked over the fence and along the pathways where it is, I thought it would be dangerous if their skin even touched the leaves.

I really like it, and when I first spotted it in the garden last year I looked it up excited to find out what it was. I was a bit gutted, because it said it was highly poisonous. So it would be nice to enjoy it and not kill it if it isn't that poisonous.

 

Check Arum maculatum out here
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Arum+maculatum