more invasive species blues (true blues!)

Even before the Garlic Mustard rears its ugly rosettes, Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) pokes up from the sleeping forest floor and in mid-April carpets acres and acres of woodland here in blue. This is one of those "easily naturalized" bulbs, and I understand that it has escaped cultivation in quite a few Midwestern states, but none of us in our department can say they've ever seen it quite like it is here on our campus, and even around the city.  Clara Ford (Henry's wife) had an entire garden devoted to blue flowers, and the local scuttlebutt is that she's the one who popularized squill and thus may be responsible for its ubiquity in our area.  I've read on some invasive species sites that it is a threat because it crowds out spring ephemerals, but Trout Lily, Spring Beauty, Mayapple, Wild Geranium, and what trillium have avoided being eaten by the deer all seem to do all right.  It certainly is the most attractive of our signature non-native species.