Rhubarb Schmubarb

This strong, well rooted and resiliant plant is rhubarb. I spent some time clearing a perimeter for it to breath better for the rest of it's long season. I found a few slimy slugs along the way and took the opportunity to teach Mia about how mommy kills slugs, salt the bastards! Both snails and slugs have infested my backyard like I've never seen before and so it's been a constant battle and they LOVE this plant. I poured pellets down that are enviro friendly, and attracts them, they eat them, and then they starve themselves before creeping away to die.

I am no fan of rhubarb. When someone told me what I had, I thought - pull it. But I know some people, my mother, sister, and my neighbor, who love the stuff. So I left it alone. Wow did it produce! I couldn't get rid of it fast enough before I had more stalks coming in.

After getting to know my neighbor, a nice little old yet very strong willed and blunt lady, Nancy, I learned a few things. The plant was special to her and the previous owner, and had enjoyed a close friendship over this one plant. How could I ever bring myself to take it out? Last year, we were clearing a lot from the backyard, enough to fill my husbands trailer to the max. She politely came running over to see what we were doing and was concerned about the plant.

The relief she expressed when she learned that we were keeping it. She was happy to see that we were trying to take back the yard from it's year's of neglect. She tells me stories about what the gardens used to be like. Anyways ladies, it's well on it's way. These pictures are about 8 days after it exploded with green.