They say that Japanese Knotweed is the next big enemy in the invasion of our hedgerows. It is disliked even more than the rhododendrons that have adapted so well to the weather in Argyll. Regular weedkilling used to take place but the authorities seem to have given up.
Yet it is so pretty. 
However, look at the way it is spreading along the road verges. Invasion indeed, and so far it seems to have no natural predator here in the UK.
Those are pretty blooms. But when it is a plant that takes over, it can be such a pain. I’d never heard of , so I looked it up, and I didn’t see any with the pink blooms. Probably a variation of same. Here, we fight Scottish Thistles! Isn’t that ironic? And they have beautiful blossoms, too.
Japanese knotweed is indeed evil – nasty prickly irritant stuff.
Notably, however, the pink stuff you depict is actually Himalayan Balsam (impatiens glandulifera), which I know from having noticed it around here barely two days ago and having had a friend identify it too. It is still technically an alien invasive species, but nothing like as offensive as knotweed.
It also comes in a very nice shade of orange, but only south in Englandshire.
Sorry to here how the rhododendrons are viewed there. In Oregon we are quite proud of them.
Thanks Tim, I am relieved that I can like the pretty pink Balsam. Should have done my homework. Off to look it all up via google.
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