Mint in the Garden. It Really Is Like A Boat

I heard the call:

"Hey, does anyone around here have any mint?"

Yep!

But ... plant it in a pot that is placed on concrete. 

I am aware of the idea that you plant things in accordance to your conditions.  Native species always take precedence over something that has been introduced.

Who knows if that pretty flower that you have loved when you lived in a different place will take root and go wild.  If it goes wild, it will upset the reason why you moved to this place, wherever it is.  Because you liked the environment.  That would be my guess.

Once it is established here in South Florida, nothing ever dies.   It just gets big and takes over.  There's this palm tree in front of my house because it sprouted in a pot in my backyard.  I wasn't quick enough to pull it out of the pot and I took the high road.  It looks good there in The Island, fighting off the dying bottlebrush tree but that is a different story.

My own yard has some invasive philodendron and some aggressively invasive Virginia Creeper.  Both grew into the turf in the backyard and the only way to eradicate those is to tear up the grass.  I'm considering concrete.  Maybe Napalm or contacting our government to see if they have any of that Agent Orange stuff left over.

Yes, those beautiful green heart shaped leaves that you have stuck in a pot up North are growing through my grass and weaving themselves tightly.  I may just send a box of the stuff to my sister.  She likes the plants and they won't survive up above the freeze line in the winter.

I'm hearing her shout "NOOOOO!" already.

It's all the same problem as the Mint.  You see, they grow on runners.  Technically they are rhizomes, I think.  The plant sends out roots at a regular interval while it is on the ground.  Those roots take hold and burrow down.

Whether it is Virginia Creeper, Philodendron, or Mint.   Keep that plant in a pot, and don't let it touch the ground or it will be assimilated.

Just like the Borg.

You see little plants in strange places, so you pull.  As you're pulling you feel some snapping.  That's you leaving that root underground.  It "comes back" in a couple weeks.  A new crop.

I went out to my Mint Pot.  It sits by the back door and on the deck.  I am very happy to have it since I will just cut pieces off of the plant, stick it in a tall glass, pour boiling water on it after it has been washed, and let it steep.  Add a little sweetener, and I am a happy camper.

No, really, Mint Iced Tea is a great "surprise" after a workout and you're waiting for your heartrate to come down below 180.  Helps you hydrate quickly.  At least when I hit that bottle with the mint in it, I just down the thing.  Water isn't quite as exciting when you're sitting in a Jeep with the A/C blowing and you're cooling down.

But don't let the stuff even hover over the garden.

I saw one little plant.  They also have tiny little flowers, did I mention that?  Those tiny flowers will self pollinate and seed.  Those seeds grow.

Spearmint Tea is a wonderful thing.  Spearmint mixed in the garden can be a major nuisance.

So much so that if I knew someone I didn't care for, I have a prank in mind.  Just drop a sprig in the garden next to the sprinkler head.

"Hey Hon?  What happened to all the flowers we planted?  All we have is Mint!"

As the happy husband gets swallowed up by the creeping green carpet.  Boil him in water and add some honey.  Your husband is gone but he'll make a great tea!

So, sitting on my windowsill is a red plastic cup.  It's stuffed with bits of mint.  There's a bit of water in there and I'm waiting for it to root.

That is if I survive it growing out from the kitchen to assimilate me.  Careful!  I'll make iced tea out of you, I really will!

So how is Mint like a Boat?  Easy!  It's better if your neighbor has it.  That way you can borrow it whenever you need it.  Just like a swimming pool.  Be nice to your neighbor and they may just allow you to use it!