“I used to love my garden But now my love is dead
For I found a Bachelor’s Button In black-eyed Susan’s bed. ~ Anon
Whoever gave the synonym of weak and straggly growth to weeds, had never pulled up groundsel, grass or creeping buttercup felt the tussle, tug and tweak of futile hands on broadleaved dock rooted through the nettle patch dispatched the knotweed with a match or dealt pernicious poison to a hemlock. Eradicate, exterminate, these verbs our turf war battles with the weeds but when persistent papaver and cornflower seeds the wheat, they give delight. And herbs we gardeners tend and grow so tenderly are wild in hedgerow, bank and verge for those who know just how to forage* - but still some mow them recklessly and lose the verdant gift of wilderness. When cranesbills* nestle down to grow unplanted in a niche, I leave them so whilst feverfew* that yearly does transgress some patch of ground apportioned for the cultivar with charm of daisy heads, does stay my hand. All these deemed weeds for breaching what is planned tough stowaways with wilful, wildflower repertoire we surely should leave room for them somewhere and cease this herbicidal, cruel warfare.
*Foraging weeds in March – the Woodland Trust
Weed – a plant or wildflower considered undesirable because growing where it is not wanted.
Weedy – (of a plant, flower, etc.) growing poorly, in a straggling manner.
Cranesbill -herb Robert – one of 3 native wild geraniums
Feverfew – Tanacetum parthenium perennial herb related to tansy and chrysanthemums
Sarah’s Poetics prompt “Weeds Rule OK” had me resorting to rhyme as part of this National Weed Appreciation day
PoetryPix 