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Photo by ndrwfgg.It's spring on this half of the world. One proof, in addition to the warmer weather, is the explosion of color springing from the grass, in gardens, in the trees, and even in my coworkers' wardrobes. Purple, new green, white, yellow, pink, red, and every color in between and beyond.
My own backyard is its own happy little party. I haven't planted any flowers yet, but I am pleased to report a gorgeous-green backyard with yellow polka dots. My husband intends to rid the yard of those polka dots. He says, "I have to spray those dandelions and get rid of them. They're weeds."
Of course, I know dandelions are classified as weeds. I, myself, have participated in their extermination before. But this spring, after such a long, cold, and maddeningly white winter, the friendly yellowness of the dandelions warms my heart. When I pull out of the garage in the morning to head to work--still half asleep--those little yellow faces have a way of welcoming me to the day. "Come on, Heather, it's spring! Wake up and have a great day!" That's what they say at my house anyway.
So who are these weed-labeling people, anyway? How do they decide these sorts of things, and who pays them to make sure we all believe them? How can a plant that is useful for eating (salad greens) and drinking (wine) be categorized as a weed?
I, for one, intend to hide my husband's newly bought herbicide. At least for one more week.
10 comments:
I heard the other day that dandelion tea was supposed to be good for you. Maybe you could run out and pick a bucket of blooms before the bomb hits!
Good perspective Heather! One person's weed is another's flower. Just don't let them spread to mt lawn :)
Now I'll have to work on my attitude.
My sister asked me just last week who decided which flowers were flowers and which flowers were weeds!
@Sally Jadlow: I prefer English Breakfast tea to the work of making my own dandelion tea. :)
@Kansas Bob: since you live a whole 'nother state away, I think keeping my beautiful blooms to myself will not pose a problem. :)
@cassie-b: I didn't mean to give you work to do! ;o)
@Anonymous: Tell your sister that she shouldn't let anyone tell her what's a weed and what's a flower. And tell her Heather said it was okay for her to decide for herself. :)
I love your color excitement Heather! But in order to bee safe, wear shoes when you walk in the yard. :)
Love ya,
Kindred Donna
Ok, Heather, I just blogged about what God was saying to me with the dandelions in our yard ... (http://paintingchartreuszebras.blogspot.com/) ... I likened the dandelions in my yard to the sin in my life ... upon further research I learned that dandelions may be pretty, but they "horde water and nutrients, while absorbing spring sunshine with broad, porous leaves. These may make nice lettuce like vegetables for some, but they steal nutrients from your lawn." Just like sin. It looks pretty on the surface, but when we allow it into our lives, it sucks the life from us, steals from us, kills us off. I say, "weed it, girl."
Ok, Heather, I just blogged about what God was saying to me with the dandelions in our yard ... (http://paintingchartreuszebras.blogspot.com/) ... I likened the dandelions in my yard to the sin in my life ... upon further research I learned that dandelions may be pretty, but they "horde water and nutrients, while absorbing spring sunshine with broad, porous leaves. These may make nice lettuce like vegetables for some, but they steal nutrients from your lawn." Just like sin. It looks pretty on the surface, but when we allow it into our lives, it sucks the life from us, steals from us, kills us off. I say, "weed it, girl."
My little girl has very excitedly produced multiple blooms for me to enjoy as a delightful bouquet of dandelions. I used to do the same for my Mom. The funny thing is that she was not happy with her daddy the other day when she disappointedly asked the question, "Why don't we have pretty yellow flowers in OUR yard?" She has had to resort to theft as she ever so bravely enters the neighbors yards to pick my bouquet. Since my neighbors probably don't want them either, I suspect they don't mind so they haven't called the flower patrol on her yet! :-)
For eating, spray H2O2 and rinse before eating. Pick ones that hasn't flowered yet so the leaves are not as bitter. You know, I like their looks in spring as well, but it's the spreading seeds that bothers me. I've seen yards taken over by them in Grandview so if you want to keep them, just pick the flowers before they seed.
Chikako
P.S.: The definition of the word "weed(s)" is "misplaced plant(s). Grass can be weed, too, you know. Without the so-called weeds, we'd have a lot more erosion problem on earth.
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