I was really excited to find this forgotten lot tucked away behind a parking lot near Girard Avenue in Philly, earlier today.
This lot has two species (among others) not featured yet: the legendary Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica), and also a grass that I believe is Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum).
I had heard a lot about Japanese Knotweed, but hadn&amp;#8217;t really seen it in the NYC area. On a bike ride by the Schuylkill River this past weekend, however, I started noticing suspicious, bamboo-like stalks on fast-growing small plants with heart-shaped leaves. Now I&amp;#8217;m seeing it even in more urban spaces (like above).
In New York, it seemed that fewer species (only the super-super tough guys) were claiming most of the territory (specifically: tree-of-heaven, princess tree, and mugwort) &amp;#8212; but I&amp;#8217;m realizing quickly in Philly that there are many more players in the game.