A metaphor

[jhetley]

The lot where that house used to stand down the street has been regraded, with loam, mulch hay, and seed over the carnage. The place used to have an aggressive stand of Japanese knotweed, invasive alien that some people thought was ornamental. The landscaping scraped that clean.

It is sprouting through the mulch.

Comments

[hairmonger]

Of course it is. (There were people who thought kudzu was ornamental.)

Mary Anne in Kentucky

[jhetley]

I think the USDA/Soil Conservation Service promoted kudzu for erosion control and fodder.

(Used to live in kudzu country.)

[hairmonger]

Yes, the USDA did that, but in the beginning there were people who admired the pretty purple flowers. (Mother from south Alabama born in 1916. Pre-kudzu.)
As far as I know, there is nothing that considers Japanese knotweed fodder.

Mary Anne in Kentucky