Recently, I issued a memo to the other Glynwood employees who had expressed a concern over my reaction to an early predicted frost that was to take the flowers from us the night before our first conference guests were to arrive. Care to take a peek?
Ralph Waldo Emerson defines a weed as a plant for which we don't YET have a use. Herb Companion magazine celebrates herbs as 'The Useful Plants'. I say it's a fine line between the two. Think about it. Does it make any sense that Dandelions were put on this planet just to aggravate us? I don't think so. What if the lowly dandelion, who will grow just about anywhere at all were, say, a tremendous source of vitamins and minerals (like vitamins A ,C & B Complex, and potassium, iron, and calcium). How about a splendid diuretic high in phosphorus, a liver tonic, and when growing in orchards, it will cause the fruit to ripen evenly and early. Not bad for a weed, eh? Then take a look at the joy factor. Turn any kid loose in a field (lawn) of dandelions in bloom, or even better, in 'fuzz'. Watch the wondrous balance. The dandelions call the children to come and play, and the children oblige by blowing dandelion fluff all over the place, thus perpetuating the species very nicely. Ain't Nature somethin'.
We need to pay more attention to what's popping up between our toes. One of my most satisfying feedbacks was a 'report' from a NYCity commuter-type to whom I had introduced
mullein as being a splendid ally for asthma saying that he suddenly saw dozens and dozens of them growing huge and grey and furry from the cliffs along the railroad tracks. He'd taken the same train for years and had never noticed them
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Barbara Hall's Weeds & Wild Plants topic, please visit the Discussions page.