An older cousin of mine taught me that song when I was about 7 or 8. I can hear her sing it now and me singing along and boo-whoing vehemently. I later wondered if she thought there was some special reason for teaching me that song. I know I empathized with the petunia: I often felt like I was alone in hostile territory! Maybe she knew.

I’m gratified that my wild story launched me into Weeds & Wildflowers and that you found both beauty and some issues with it! That’s what friends are for! Your experience with Boneseed in the park was an edifying (and horrifying) example of what an invasive species can do. The work you and your friends did to eradicate it is exemplary.

There may be some similarity, but I am not sure a half hardy annual like the Sulfur Cosmos compares in any way to a large aggressive perennial shrub. One may be a pest, the other a menace! But I do not know everything.

The wild cosmos does not seem to be very hardy. The original roadside area where I took the seeds no long has a single plant. Even on my driveway where I once planted the seeds, after a few months of glory—the flowers and the plants disappeared. Reminds me somehow of a friend I had in college—an attractive pest who hung around for awhile but eventually moved on!

I will keep a wary eye out for wicked weeds. Seriously, should I fall in love with another one, I will research it thoroughly before I attempt to propagate it. I learned that Australia has a database of invasive or illegal species; I will search for the equivalent in Puerto Rico.

There have been several cases of escaped or released pets: birds, snakes (yes, snakes, but so far none known to be venomous) and some really large iguanas. Why would anyone keep reptiles for pets? And why would the human reptiles release them to fend for themselves (and reproduce) in one of the most densely populated islands in the world? It’s a puzzlement.

But then again, almost half the population of the USA seem to think a certain dumb bully is the second coming of Jesus. (What was that about a rough beast slouching toward Bethlehem to be born again?)