Birdsfoot trefoil blankets fields and lawns in yellow

Most folks associate the arrival of spring with the flood of yellow dandelions growing profusely in lawns, roadsides and fields. However these attractive yellow flowers bloom quickly, have a short flowering life and quickly turn white and coarse leafed.

Ths yellow blanket is shortly followed by another yellowing plant, mainly on roadsides but even establishing in lawns.

This perennial legume is Birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus. It is a long-lived perennial blooming on a plant of small, dark green leaves.

Introduced into eastern Canada 40+ years ago as a long lived, non bloat inducing nutritious forage crop it was regarded as difficult to establish. Agronomists urged farmers to assure the use of the appropriate inoculant, a rhizobia that introduces the right nitrogen fixing bacteria to emerging roots to establish the plants.

This need obviously no longer exists as the plants seem to readily and freely establish.

The name "Birdsfoot" stems from the usual five brown seedbearing pods resembling a bird's foot that form following pollination.

The flowering period usually lasts for at least one month adding colour to our environment, while all the while providing a desirable, environmentally friendly ground cover.

Martin C. Pick, Cavan