They are evil caltrops. They're the seed of an evil plant and they cause evil wounds to people feet, dog feet, and bicycle tires. Not that I have a bicycle, but they're THAT sturdy. If I had a laminitic horse, I would seriously worry about goathead caltrops in its soles! Happily, a quick Google tells me that goathead plants are the only native thing left living in my yard - I erroneously assumed that That One Vine wasn't a devil plant. Since I removed all the other native spiny weedy plants - and by removed I mean I've filled up to six trash bags per week for three months - it'll be easy enough for me to kill off the goatheads.
Anyway.
Two days ago I found one on a sock while I was slipping on my cheap imitation Crocs. Yesterday I found another one. Today I found a third and decided to Take Action - I turned on all the lights and crawled around the den carpet feeling for goatheads.
I hope I found them all.
edited to add: after I took this picture I found one more (and two Cersei-nail-clippings.)
I would really like to blame Cersei for this. Not that I would yell at her or anything - she is but an innocent dog - but, you know, cleaning up after the dog is easier than cleaning up after yourself. Sadly, ALL the goatheads were within a couple of feet of where I sit on my couch. (As opposed to Cersei's couch - don't all good dogs have their own slipcovered couches? Trust me, it keeps the People Couch much cleaner if you just give in and let the dog have her own.)
I'd really like to pin this one on the dog, but circumstantial evidence suggests it's I who is tracking them in. :(
And I thought the bindies in Australia were bad!! Your ones would draw blood!!
ReplyDeleteCant say I have ever heard of them. Now I consider myself educated! They look really nasty things.
ReplyDeleteMy first recollections of using tools as a child was removing the wheel off my bicycle to fix flats caused by goatheads. A couple times a week. Then I got some "Thorn-Proof" inner tubes. only a couple flats a month after that.
ReplyDeleteDie weeds, and don't come back.
Bill
Omg are goatheads just another name for stickers??? Those things are THE DEVIL!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOuch, those things certainly do look evil! And I'm glad you admitted it wasn't Cersei's fault. Cersei would NEVER drag in anything evil; how could you even for a moment think that????? LOL
ReplyDeleteHate those things. We have every conceivable form of nasty prickery thistley sticker bush on our 20 acres and since its 20 acres..uhh its hard to keep on top of. We got about half of it sprayed successfully this year (I know, useful strategy right?). Hopefully next spring we'll find it in the funds to hire a big tractor/mower to mow our pastures etc and then do a full spraying. My husband likes to be barefoot and that ain't happening around here! (actually it still is, just with a lot of added whining and foot examination)
ReplyDeleteWhoa..those are very nasty buggers. And, an amazing amount if effort ( trash bags) to rid your life of them...guess you'll be keeping at that!
ReplyDeleteWahooo, a Nasty Plant that doesn't grow in my Swamp! Hooray!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you can get your hands on some leftover Agent Orange. I bet that'd kill them...er, and everybody else. So, maybe not a great strategy.
I have not seen goatheads before. I am glad I've never experienced one in my tender flesh or a dog's paw. (Freya probably would have ate my hand in the removal process- she hated having her feet messed with).
ReplyDeleteInstead, I dealt with beetles, Palmetto bugs, blue-tailed skinks, lizards that looked like baby bearded dragons (which are not native, so what are they?), and geckos. I think I need a lizard identification book. :)
Yep, we've got them here, and I hate them too.
ReplyDeleteI wondered what 'goatheads' were...
ReplyDeleteA-hah!!
Aka...Texas Sandburs
(Cause you know everything is bigger in TX. ;-)
I found a few around here...incidentally while walking barefoot where I shouldn't have been. :(
Six bags is a lot. I would have hated to have to clean up that many, but you have to or the darned things just take over. Good luck getting them killed off.
I hate those things- fortunately not a big issue here- the foxtails are worse in my neck of the woods. Thought you were talking about the OTHER Cersei for a moment... :-)
ReplyDeleteWe've got sand spurs here. Very hard to eradicate once they take hold.
ReplyDeleteMy Sweetpea has her own couch - it's just easier that way. ;)
Ummm... ow!! I found something similar at the barn and once they get on boots and pants, you're done. Even trying to pull them off is miserable because then they stick into your skin. Hopefully you can banish them!!
ReplyDeleteI hate those things! I'd never seen one before we moved to our new place a year ago but we have 'em and found that out the hard way. It's like steping on a thumb tack.
ReplyDeleteWe had tons of 'em in SW Nebraska. We've lived in Maryland over a year and still occasionally find one stuck in a sock or a lawnmower tire. They are worse in "disturbed soil" but will die with an application of 2,4-D. Oh, and they will travel in the soles of your faux crocs... jus' sayin'
ReplyDeleteBoy I hate those things. They get stuck in my crocs all the time, and my poor dog's feet. Interesting to read the comment on how to get rid of them. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHorrible weed! My Dad fights them in CO all the time!
ReplyDeletethey are evil twin sisters to those abominations that turn into tumbleweeds. a tiny sliver of which is sticking in my middle finger right now.
ReplyDelete- The Equestrian Vagabond
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