Simply expressed, a weed is any plant that grows where it isn't wanted. Weeds are defined by their tendency to flourish at the expense of a gardener's overall vision, and we tend to battle their presence in our yards.
It is interesting to consider, though, that a plant is a weed only within a certain context, which is to say that one person's weed is another person's wildflower. Most of us have pulled at least one dandelion up by its roots and disposed of it in the interest of preserving the look of a perfect green lawn, yet the dandelion is good medicine, packed with healing properties and vitamin-rich leaves that are a delicious, spicy surprise in a summer salad.
In the wild, there is no such thing as a weed because the overall vision is in the hands of Mother Nature, who accommodates and incorporates all forms of life. In nature, balance is achieved over the long term, without the aid, or interference, of a human supervisor.
While one plant may prevail over others for a certain period of time, eventually it will reach an apex and then it will naturally decline, allowing for other forms to be born and survive. This self-regulating realm was the first garden of our ancestors, who learned the art of agriculture from studying the forests and fields of the as yet uncultivated earth.
In a sense, weeds are harbingers of this wildness, pushing their way into our well-ordered plots, undermining more delicate flora, and flourishing in spite of us.
The next time you see a weed, you might want to look deeply into its roots, discover its name, its habits, and its possible uses. Instead of seeing an unwanted intruder, you might see a healer offering its leaves for a medicinal tea or its flowers for a colorful salad.
At the very least, if you look long enough, you will see a messenger from the wilderness of Mother Earth, reminding you that, even in the most carefully controlled garden, she cannot be completely ruled out.
2 comments:
Well said. There are many dandelions on our lawn. I've given up trying to control them. They form the hardiest part of the lawn in midsummer when everything else turns brown. They are lovely in the early spring and hardy all year round. I'm linking your post because it's well said. Thanks for posting this. Peace. :-) Don
Mmmm.... Dandelion leaves in salad. I've never understood why dandelions needed to be controlled at all. Luckily, we lived in the country where we could have a lawn containing dandelion, sweet and sour, red clover, white clover, different varieties of grass, and even violets and Queen Anne's lace (which has roots that make a pretty pink jelly).
I think people would have less trouble keeping lawns green if they'd give up on the idea that a lawn should only have one kind of plant in it. Or for that matter, that grass should only be a couple inches high... But then, I got entertainment for nearly a whole summer out of watching the mint patch and the blackberry bramble fight each other for space.
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