Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Another re run for you!

Here is one more from last summer. I have to admit that I love the pics of the flowers/weeds. Makes me very hopeful!















I could write a total epic Michener novel about what I have learned about myself from weeds. It's true. Think about it. Weeds flourish in parched land while most flowers with the exception of
succulents, perish. They can't stand the heat, the relentless summer sun without moisture. We are in a heat wave where I live and also we are in a moderate drought. I am an early rise by nature. Even before I married and had children, I was an early riser. My mom always said that I was in a hurry to live each day. That's one way to put it. I have learned that I get more accomplished when I start early and I poop out about mid afternoon and need a recharging! Okay, my ADD is kicking in again. I didn't really mean to throw that in, but, since I said it and just read it, I can dance ahead to complete the thought about weeds.

I am an indiscriminate gardener. If there is a spot in my garden . . . heckfire, if there is a spot anywhere in my landscape that I think needs something there, I will fill it. I have been known to go foraging in the woods looking for the perfect
woodland specimen to fit under one of my sprawling oaks, or to hide delicately beneath my beloved pussy willow.

I even use weeds. Yes, you read right, weeds. I know some folk that call anything a weed! But a weed to some is a ground cover or flowering grass to me!

Take for example the lowly bugle weed. Now that's it's common name. It is now being sold in garden spots under the name Ajuga. I have it growing all around my yard. My hubby mows it over calling it a weed. When I first spotted my bugle weed, I quickly called my sister, Cat. She is as much a weed lover as myself, often accompanying me on treks through the hills and hollers we live on.
Buttercups, bugle weed, gil go o'er, are all wonderful weeds to me. I know them by sight immediately in their early stages and gently pluck them from where they have been blown the previous season. I then place them where I can enjoy their beauty. You just need to find the right place to stick them where they will be happy! People are like that. I know you have heard the old saying, you can take the man out of the country but you can't take the country out of the man. Wherever they are at, they carry some of their "raising" with them. If I notice a flowering weed - (which by the way, more times than not, they are an herb) I

notice it's surroundings. What is it that caused this particular plant to take hold there. I sweet talk to it the whole time I am digging it up telling it how happy it is going to be in my garden. It can be a prince surrounded by an array of nodding subjects.


A truly regal, no - make that majestic, weed is Mullein. Erect and proud in my backyard at over 6 foot, these specimens can grow to over 10 foot tall. Their grace is matched only by their ability to withstand the heat of the summer sun without wilting. Mullein is actually an herb that is seen growing along the sides of the road in ditches, accepting the total disregard of passers by who fling their McDonald's bags at them. Oil from the flowers have been used for centuries for pulmonary ills. In fact, it is distilled today for many cough remedies. It also has anti bacterial agents in it. It makes a wonderful ochre dye from the golden flower heads.
I sow a lot of seed each year. Perrennials seeds, annual seeds ~ most I have gathered from my own, some I pluck from a friend's garden, some I order. In each batch of seed, there is always a weed that will pop up next to it. I let the weed grow until I decide if it is a prince, pauper or interloper. But above all, watching something grow from the ground up is a joy. It reminds me that life is a cycle. We come from the dust and return there. I remind myself when I look at the mullein to look cool, calm and collected when the heat gets turned up and to reflect the natural beauty that God has placed within me.

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matt. 6:28-29)

13 comments:

Donna said...

I love the weeds!!lol...and the best way to find out if it's friend or foe is to just let 'em grow! You're right! Have a happy night love!

Cora from Hidden Riches said...

We must be soul mates!!!!! I love nothing more than to walk with the woods with a spade and a bag and bring home my living treasures!!!!! Anything from a new seedling pine tree, to a "whatever-it-is" flowering weed, I want it! To me, the most beautiful flowers are found hidden in the woods!!!!!

So glad to know there is another person on earth who appreciates ALL that God has put here for us to enjoy!

Cora

Robin Leuschen said...

I too enjoy what some consider weeds... On the farm I had a wonderful side lawn covered by wild violets...I refused to let anyone mow that spot ...directly under my one window grew a huge patch of wild strawberries....I always wondered how they had gotten their start there, but noone was allowed near that area with the weed wacker...
I went hunting along the side of the road and dug up numerous daffodils and replanted them...I could go on and on.....
Yes, kinded spirits !!!
Hugs,
Robin

Blondie ~ Vintage Primitives said...

Whew, I don't feel like such a nut, now!
I also dig up wild violets, daffodils, strawberry runners, and day lilies. Another neat one I find on the side of the road is Butterfly Weed. It blooms orange here and my hubs has gotten real good at keeping a spade in his truck, along with a bucket - he's a good egg.

Sarah said...

I could only dream of working a garden along with weeds with a magical spade the way you can. What can I say...the green thumb gene missed me by a lONG shot!
~Face*

Countryfolk Keepsakes said...

I think I have more weeds than wild flowers on my property and I'm fine with that. :> )
Don't they say Sweet Annie is a weed?! Well I pray my patch of "weeds" flourish this year! I can't wait to lie face down in a tuft of that stuff and breathe in that wonderful aroma!
~Peanut

Amy said...

Blondie,
you have such a way of weaving a tale into facts and trivia and nostalgia. Keep it comin' girl!
Amy

tattered 'n torn prims said...

If it weren't for weeds...my lanscaping would have very little flowers!! LOL!! Gardening and landscaping are really not my cup of tea...although I love the look, don't so much enjoy the "work"!! We're adding a waterfall this year so I better get to lovin' it!! LOL!!

Sandy said...

I absolutely love your philosophy. I so enjoyed reading your blog.

Anonymous said...

Mom used to gather plants she loved from the woods...buttercup. Dutchman's breeches, Trilliam, bleeding heart,violets ferns and more..all adorned her yard in her flower beds.I always enjoyed walking through her gardens in the early spring...as most these would come up first along with her tulips and spring bulbs. A wonderful guide you have made through memory lane! thanks !

The Gathering Room said...

Thanks for the trip down memory lane!.My .mom also had some wonderful plants she gathered from the woods...trillium, viloets ,dutchman's breeches, buttercup, ferns and more...I always loved seeing her flowerbeds in the Spring as these would be amongst the first to bloom along with her tulips and spring bulbs.

Betty said...

I knew we were kindred spirits. I like weed too. I mean weeds. teehee California has some beautiful weeds. Sunflowers, black-eyed susans, poppies, lupine..they all spring up like weeds this time of year. I will have to take a drive around the countryside for you and take pictures soon.

cherbear said...

HEY BEAUTIFUL...YES ME AND SARA ARE NEWFOUND FRIENDS...I'M LOVING IT....HOW ARE YOU??...I MISS YA....I WILL BE DOWN FOR THE WEEK THIS WEEKEND...CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU....