What is a weed? I guess that’s a question that’s been asked since some plants were labeled ‘weeds’. The answer to that question differs between who you talk to.
My usual answer to that question is: a weed is a plant growing where it shouldn’t be.
Weeds in my locality include lots of pasture grasses as I live in a dairy farming area, there are also lots more.
Luckily, I think they can be quite beautiful too. Flowers, seed heads, leaves, all can have an inherent beauty.
Take Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) for example. I find the inflorescence (another word for a group of flowers forming at the head of a stem) fascinating. The brownish flowers have long, white stamens floating around the circumference of the flower and they wave above the rosette of leaves at the base.
Many a child has had happy hours ‘shooting’ each other with them. If you’ve never done it, find a disturbed, open area and you’re bound to find some. Pick a long stem down the base, bending the stem to wrap just under the base of the flower, pull it tight , then ‘ping’! The flower will fly off and hit your opponent. hours of fun!
The long, heavily ribbed leaves can be eaten if they’re picked young enough but they get quite tough as they get older. They have been used in herbal teas, but I’m not qualified to give advice on that.
Stop to take a look at a plant you’d otherwise call a weed and try to find something positive about it.
Til next time!
The Flowerpot Pen 