What is a weed?
It's supposed to be a nuisance plant. But I have some really beautiful weeds growing in my garden. Like Foxglove:
WEED FOR WEDNESDAY Some people may want to pull those babies out - but not me. I say, "Who is the genius that determines what's pretty and what's a pain?"
At least in my garden, that genius is going to be me. Now, I know foxglove can be dangerous. Some people consider it a poison but other people consider it a lifesaving medicine.
Of course you shouldn't plant foxglove, or Fairy Fingers wherever kids or pets might eat them because they will get sick. But, for me, I plant them in places where my pets can't get to them because I think they're pretty. Plus, I've never seen my dogs or cat even try to eat them. Maybe they're smarter than I give them credit.
Another "weed" I have in my yard is Amaranthus retroflexus.
Some people call it "pigweed" but it was cultivated by the Aztecs for culinary purposes and by Native Americans for it's grain. I think it's pretty.
So, is a weed just a plant that grows too easily? Why do we fight in our gardens to keep these plants out? I garden with the "cottage garden" mentality: If I like it, it stays. I don't care what people call the plants.
What do you think? Do you have any "wanted" weeds in your yard?
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5 comments:
I'd love to have all those foxgloves in my garden. My garden is new this year and I figure it will take me three years of annual seeding to get foxgloves established.
I planted foxgloves on purpose and they ALL DIED. GAH! I thought they were so lovely growing wild in Ireland. Apparently rhodedendrons are like a weed there, too. Another thing that won't grow well here.
For me, Queen Anne's Lace is a "weed" that I find lovely and let live. Ditto for goldenrod and dandelions (they have a short lifespan). Our pigweed is icky.
I had no idea foxgloves were a WEED! I love foxgloves! I suppose lupins are too, and I love those as well. My gardening motto is "controlled chaos!"
Those are pretty. I love dandilions though my husband can't stand them. Who hasn't plucked a dandilion and blown it away?
I struggle with this! Some "weeds" are so darned pretty but then the seeds get into riparian areas and do damage to native plant habitat (which I live close to). So I try to be careful. In my front yard, violas are taking over! They're literally growing like weeds.
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