The first Winter Aconites are a beacon of woodland beauty even in a gloomy January. They are in a small wooded area; and some daffodil shoots are showing through too. The long-term presence of this independent-minded flower is something to admire and respect.
But their dominating neighbour is a large poplar tree. The poplars along here are continually threatening to expand their territory and colonise the area. Its a threat that the aconites, daffodils snow drops and other peace-loving plants have to regularly contend with. The poplars send out thuggish suckers to intimidate the surrounding plants even though ultimately they share the same ecosystem.
However, the poplars' behaviour has long been bounded by established management routines that oversee the area and aspire to promote balance and harmony so that all get along together in partnership. Even if these rules ever get over-ridden by the poplars the aconites are resilient enough to survive one way or another.
The poplars undoubtedly cause a lot of havoc, often in unexpected places. Of course, they are not all bad but just because the they provide some summer shade you'd think they expect a prize for this one thing whatever else they do.
