Weedy City

I've been a little hesitant to write this post being a newly adopted Montréalais, but I can't help but be surprised by the lack of care and maintenance in private gardens and balconies in my neighbourhood.  Meanwhile municipal plantings are spectacular, especially in tourist areas, and the Jardin Botanique de Montréal has eye-popping displays that should be inspiring to the any of the population with a garden or balcony. My street is particularly weedy, it is over-run by Manitoba Maple (Acer negrundo), in fact we have huge specimens that were planted as street trees and are now seeding themselves into every nook and cranny; no one seems to care if they are growing out of the side of the house or out of (and slowly killing) their favourite lilac or honeysuckle.

This was once a very fine Peking Cotoneaster hedge,
now it is over-run with Manitoba Maple 

Conveniently at eye-level for a passing child, 

this stinging nettle is thriving in the raised beds around a café terrace.

How would you like to have this lovely thing growing
 out of the foundation of your  residence?
Also check out the clever plantings on the balconies.

This planting around a new condo development seems to have "just growed".