Each spring has its own unique crop of weeds. This spring has an unusually high number of different weeds, due to our mild winter. The volume of weeds this March has been overwhelming.

Even though there were many contestants in the Spring Queen Weed contest, there was a clear winner.

This weed showed a superior ability to grow along side other weeds.

This one was firmly rooted wherever it took hold. It clearly dominated the field as a go-getter.

The lovely little purple blooms atop square stems were quickly recognized as a nettle.

Its hairy leaves with a blush of purple, arranged oppositely with palmate venation was the sign that this was no regular Henbit.

I’d like to announce the newly crowned “Spring Queen of the Weeds” is…

Purple Deadnettle/ Lamium purpureum

She is clearly top of the heap for the 2016 spring season.

Congratulations Nettie!

Do not expect me to end this post with

“Long live the Queen.”