|
|
“A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.” …Doug Larson
|
|
 Goldenrod, Ironweed, Dutch Clover, Sumac and Ditch Lilies. These are names that are associated with plants that are undesirable. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and these so-called weeds are welcome in my gardens.
I tend to take a less formal approach to my gardens. There are no measured military rows of annuals standing at attention here. An unorganized jumble of whatever feels right is my only garden plan. Weeds endure whatever weather throws at them They survive winters without a flinch. Drought doesn't faze them, and flooding merely slows them down a bit. Over thousands of years they have flourished, and basked in the extreme conditions that make their more cultured cousins shrivel and die. So many of these weeds are the essential elements of survival  to  a great number of insects. Often, they are host plants for butterflies to lay their eggs on, and the resulting caterpillars eat for food. Many times there is a limited variety of plants that a caterpillar species can eat. Without these specific weeds, that butterfly becomes endangered. Late February and early March finds me searching for the first signs of Spring. Most gardeners never notice these first few blossoms. As winter struggles to hang on, Chickweed and Bittercress are usually the first to appear here in western KY. They are tiny little blossoms that will go un-noticed by the casual observer, and while I'm not overjoyed at seeing them in my flowerbeds and vegetable garden, they do draw a smile on those last dreary days of winter. There will be time enough to become frustrated by their enthusiastic reproduction when it becomes warmer. Spring brings the arrival of Dutch Clover. People who love perfect lawns despise it. They spend untold hours and money trying to banish it from their flawless green carpets. However, I have a yard, not a lawn, and the clover is a cheery sprinkle of white that I happen to enjoy. The honeybees enjoy it too They stay busy going from one bloom to the next, and anything that will benefit the lives of honeybees is welcome in my book. They are in such a decline that any plants that they use should be encouraged. Summer is an explosion of Ox-eye daisies, and Ditch Lilies. All of these have been considered weeds at some point, and depending on what part of the world one is from, they can be labeled invasive and harmful to crops. Left on their own in this area, they simply create a slight nuisance to farmers, but nothing serious.  Autumn is when weeds shine best. Roadsides are ablaze with Sumac and Poison Ivy. Ageratum and Goldenrod grow in drifts. The colors are bright and cheerful late in the summer when everything else is gasping and struggling to survive. Gardeners banish goldenrod like it is nuclear waste, thinking that it is responsible for allergies and hay fever. Goldenrod pollen is not even airborne. It is the pollen of Ragweed that is responsible for the sneezing and itchy eyes. Goldenrod gets blamed and shunned from the garden, and it is simply an innocent bystander.
Purple Ironweed and Downy Asters are like jewels shining in fields and fencerows. Each clump adorned with the extra embellishment of butterflies fluttering atop the bright blooms. Only the arrival of frost will dull this tapestry. There may be parts of the country where these plants are cultivated with much love and care. But here in west KY, they are simply pasture weeds that cattle refuse to eat. It's all a matter of perspective, and some plants, like Poison Ivy may be best when enjoyed from afar. With just a little research, local weeds can be tamed and taught to play nicely among their more well-bred cousins. Planted in the back of a border, the taller wild selections can be quite stunning mixed in with commercial plant material. The added benefit of attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and nectar drinking moths is just icing on the cake. Give some of your local pasture weeds a chance in your garden. They are pretty much kill-proof, and give a lovely show for very little work. If you live in a rural area with pastures and fencerows, then, these are also free plants. Most property owners will be more than happy to allow you to collect seeds. Just be sure to ask permission first.
|
I come from a long line of Kentuckians who love the Good Earth. I love to learn about every living thing, and love to share what I've learned. Photography is one of my passions, and all of the images in my articles are my own.
|
|
Subject: Thanks!
Posted by mametcalf (from Mount Morris, MI) on March 13, 2008 at 5:22 PM:Thank you, Melody! Last year I started a project identifying and transplanting local "weeds" to appropriate areas of my property (we have several acres). Then our family was faced with some pretty difficult situations to overcome and I abandoned my project. I now see that such an activity will help to bring me joy and diversion from my troubles while preserving native plants which are rapidly being lost to development in my area. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. ...
Subject: Thank You!
Posted by trilian15 (from Helsinki
(Finland)) on March 12, 2008 at 2:23 PM:I don't understand, why some people hate so much "terrible weed wildflowers" and "nothing but weed wildflowers".
Plants don't "think". They have one goal: to be alive. They don't "think" if it is "right" or "wrong" to exist. Every time I see "weeds" I must admire them - there are so much life in those plants.
Most of the times when plants behave "bad", it is our own fault. We people do mess up ecosystems, not the plants :( ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 12, 2008 at 2:54 PM: Well said! Thank you, as well! ...
Subject: Excellent article on excellent weeds!
Posted by Horseshoe (from Efland, NC) on March 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM:Thanks, Mel! Glad to hear there are more "weed freaks" out there enjoying the bounty that surrounds us! What a great article! Love it!
Pictures are great! Ya done gooood!
Shoe
(Hmmm...I wonder if you could find a weed in the snow ya'll just had? I'm the curious sort, ya know!) ... Posted by Fitsy (from Hayesville, NC) on March 11, 2008 at 8:29 AM: Thanks so much for the article! I really, really
love "weeds"
Fitsy ...
Subject: Thank You Melody!
Posted by frankford (from East Lansing, MI) on March 10, 2008 at 9:21 PM:This past winter I've learned that making use of the natives plants will help bring back butterflies, frogs, and beneficial insects . I am so glad that people are promoting wild plants. ...
Subject: Very encouraging!
Posted by LariAnn (from Miami, FL) on March 10, 2008 at 12:27 PM:You are so right that the wild plants some call "weeds" have their own charms and are worth appreciating. There's a whole new world of plants to be enjoyed, even amongst the smallest and most inconspicuous members. ... Posted by leaflady (from Hughesville, MO) on March 10, 2008 at 1:51 PM: I like most of these 'weeds' plus a lot of others. ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 10, 2008 at 2:47 PM: There's lots of great weeds. I'll write more about some of them as the year goes on. It's a subject that I never tire talking about. ...
Subject: Enjoyed your story on 'Wonderful Weeds'
Posted by Bettypauze (from Victoria Harbour, ON) on March 10, 2008 at 10:57 AM:Such beauty, and provided by Mother Nature herself...
One year I purchased a container of wildflowers and sprinkled its content along the riverbanks' edge and it grew into a massive bed of color...a neighbor while visiting and watching me pull the weeds, laughed and told me I had been pulling the actual flowers and leaving the weeds...so truly, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder! ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 10, 2008 at 2:51 PM: Thanks Betty. I love weeds, glad to see that someone else does too! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on March 10, 2008 at 3:26 PM: great article, Melody! ... Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on March 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM: I have never understood how goldenrod or sumac or ditchlilies could be considered weeds. Loved your article, melody! ...
Subject: Weeds and turf
Posted by Noturf (from Marquesas Islands
(Polynesia (French))) on March 10, 2008 at 7:50 AM:Congratulations. Not only beauty is in the eye of the beholder, regarding this subject, it demonstrates a wisdom beyond the average. Many people infatuated with turf, pollute, make noise and eliminate weeds because they "ruin" it. With self seeding weeds I created
the only prairie garden I have seen in Puerto Rico. It was a matter of designing the paths, hiding points with curves and cutting the
grass at different heights with a lawn mower and trimmer where inclination demanded it.
Now I watch certain weeds with attractive flowers or nice architecture and try to domesticate them,. This is rewarding and have
tried to share it without much acceptance. In general, people are indifferent to vegetation . Noticing weeds is something really
different about any gardening, taking what nature offers and integrating those tolerating our particular house/garden conditions.
It requires ability to observe and select. It certainly makes one's garden unique.
... Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on March 10, 2008 at 2:55 PM: Fun and informative article ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 10, 2008 at 3:10 PM: Cultivated plants are just the 'plain white bread' of the plant world. My tastes tend to lean toward the hearty Rye or Pumpernickel, and tend to gravitate toward things that have a unique 'flavor'.
I encourage the wildings on my property and am happy when someone else does the same.
The value of our wild plants is vast, and without them, we would soon perish.
I feel the same way about our insects and our vegetables.
Insects should be encouraged to inhabit gardens, and I prefer the old Open Pollinated vegetables that have been passed down for generations.
Here are links to a couple of my articles on those subjects. I hope you enjoy them too.
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com] ...
Subject: weeds, wonderful weeds
Posted by tabby7 (from Alford, FL) on March 10, 2008 at 7:31 AM:You've said it all. The birds, bees, butterflies, insects, and members of the animal kingdom depend on these plants and their blossoms and seeds. They also introduce many "surprises" into our gardens. Some of the tiniest "weeds" have intricate and beautiful characteristics and interesting names. During our recent drought years the weeds were the survivors - living on while the pampered plants dried up (or didn't even sprout). Thank you for a delightful and informative article. ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 10, 2008 at 2:46 PM: You're very welcome. This article was a joy to write. I'll have more articles throughout the year about weeds. ...
Subject: I thought I was the only one...
Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on March 10, 2008 at 12:36 AM:You mean I'm not the only one who calls them "wildflowers" instead of weeds? We have all the ones you mentioned here in northern KY, too. I make lovely bouquets with them--this spring and summer I will try to get good pics of them. Of course, when they grow in the middle of a planned, organized garden, it's not nice. I have seeds saved from two different milkweeds for butterflies, the deep purple ironweed, and Jack-in-the-pulpit, that I want to plant "on purpose". And I have actually dug up "ditch lilies" from roadsides and planted them amongst my others. Thanks for confirming that I'm not alone in this, Mel! :) ... Posted by debilu (from Fingerlakes Region, NY) on March 10, 2008 at 6:16 AM: Oh my! I love the ironweed and have been trying to find out what it is. I see it growing along the road in PA when I travel there. I've tried collecting some seed, but with no luck so far. Thanks for IDing and a great article. I too call them wildflowers, and seeing fields of them are really pretty. ... Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on March 10, 2008 at 10:42 AM: I didn't know my bed of fall ageratum was considered a weed, I love them! Great article! ... Posted by MOWIVA (from Virginia Beach, VA) on March 10, 2008 at 12:21 PM: I've grown various "weeds" (wildflowers!) as speciman plants and had some amazing results. To do this, pull out all the plants around the wildflower and leave only one plant in the area--the healthiest looking one. Don't fertilize because wildflowers often don't thrive if given too much nutrition, but keep the competitive plants weeded back. A couple of times I've had wildflowers that normally only reach 12-18 inches grow into spectacular flower-filled bushes 4-5 feet high. Doesn't always happen, but I sure love experimenting. I admit I enjoyed it when my neighbor, who only buys name-brands from the local over-priced nursery, praised my glorious silver-leafed bush with the lemon yellow flowers blowing in the wind and asked me the name because she wanted one. I had to admit I had no idea of the name but was able to tell her that it was one of the scrawny-looking weeds we had been pulling out of our gardens earlier in the spring.
I've also had interesting and lovely results by treating wildflowers as special guests by pulling up all but one kind of plant in an area. ... Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on March 10, 2008 at 12:35 PM: Were there no weeds wildflowers to begin with, this cultivated gardening stuff would never have evolved and certainly not been carried to extremes as it has. So, I see pluses and minuses on both sides - better to straddle the fence, like we do. Make sure that nothing gets totally eliminated (maybe mosquitoes?) but also appreciate the beauty that cultivation and breeding (wow - I sound like I'm talking about Ladies' Home Journal) --- but also appreciate the beauty that flower breeders have brought us! (Phew, I thought I'd never finish!)
And, Mel, great writing. xx, Carrie ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 10, 2008 at 2:50 PM: Thanks ya'll! I loved writing this article.
Cathy, the ageratum is one of those weeds that have been 'tamed', and there are now cultivated selections being sold commercially. Here in west KY, the wild form grows in huge drifts across many pastures in the early Fall. It's a great plant, whether wild or 'tame'. I love the color! ... Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on March 10, 2008 at 3:28 PM: Melody, mine has been coming back for 25 years now, I'm sure it isn't a cultivated selection, just a "weed". Some years I only get a few, last year I had a big patch. When I cut it down after a heavy frost, I shake the plants over the bed to drop any extra seeds for next year. It behaves nicely, and is easy to pull if it does come up somewhere else. ... Posted by glendalekid (from Tuscaloosa, AL) on March 10, 2008 at 9:14 PM: Melody,
Thank you for the great article. If it has a pretty flower -- it's a wildflower, not a weed! I have two little tiny wildflowers coming up now. One is a Johnny-Jump-Up. I have no idea what the other one is, but it's pink. Both are adorable and only about 2" high. You really have to get close to the ground to see them, but if you do they are truly delightful. I am looking forward to the return of my other "weeds" this summer and fall.
Karen
... Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on March 10, 2008 at 11:44 PM: I didn't know that ageratum was a wildflower--cool! Maybe some of the others will "graduate" into cultivation, too. ...
Login to post a comment.
| 
