Everyone is a Weed in Someone's Garden
88One of the rare blue edible things
What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have always been fascinated by the concept of weeds. Tenacious, frustrating, masters of survival. They have been referred to as "nature's graffiti." Some have been so successful they have earned their own place in horticulture as grass, ornamentals, medicine and sometimes flowers of choice rather than a scourge to be hunted down and eliminated.
I have known people like that. People who don't look like, who don't act like and who don't fit in with the crowd they are in. And yet, in their own right and amongst others who see their worth, they often are the trendsetters, the ones who are quoted and eventually emulated.
But what about the weeds that proliferate so that the plants who were there first can't compete? What about the weeds that are prickly and don't look as pretty as the other plants? If you are a human weed, the difference is you have a choice. As we look at nature's "weeds" we just might learn a thing or two that will make all the difference in how we are perceived and whether or not we will be included or excluded.
He who hunts for flowers will find flowers; and he who loves weeds will find weeds. ~Henry Ward Beecher
Borage, also known as Starflower, originated in Syria and has
naturalized all over Europe and the Americas. The seed oil is desired
as a source of gamma linoleic acid or GLA, for which borage is the highest known plant-based source. Borage or Starflower is a flower that quite often grows as a weed in home gardens. The flower is one of the rare blue edible things, and
tastes very sweet. What we can learn from the Starflower is If you are useful and colorful, even if your pedigree is just starting, others will notice you and start to include you in their events and projects. (Newbie hubbers take note!)
One is tempted to say that the most human plants, after all, are the weeds. ~John Burroughs
May all your weeds be wildflowers. ~Author Unknown
What we call a weed is in fact merely a plant growing where we do not want it. ~E.J. Salisbury
Blow Away Dandelion
One of the most famous weeds is the dandelion. Many a homeowner has struggled with the lowly dandelion plant springing up in their yard--only to find their children plucking the ephereal sphere of helicopter-like seeds and blowing them into the wind to land who knows where amongst their carefully cultivated blades of grass or rows of flowers.
While the dandelion is considered a weed by many gardeners, the plant does have several culinary and medicinal uses. The plant can be eaten cooked or raw in various forms, such as in soup or salad. Usually the young, less bitter leaves are eaten raw in salads while older leaves are cooked. Dandelion blossoms are used to make dandelion wine. Dandelions are high in vitamin A and also are a source of vitamin C. Ground roasted dandelion root is sometimes used as a coffee substitute. Drunk before meals, this is believed to stimulate digestive functions. Unlike other diuretics, dandelion leaves contain good amounts of potassium, a mineral that is often lost during increased urination. There is also evidence that this property of dandelion leaves may normalize blood sugar.
We can learn from the dandelion--so you're a weed, be sweet ,
you can be sustenance for someone. If you are alone in a barren place,
put on a happy face and bloom where you are planted. If you want to
promote yourself--make it fun for others to help you.
I learn more about God from weeds than from roses; resilience springing
through the smallest chink of hope in the absolute of concrete....~Phillip Pulfrey
The Corncockle
Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. ~A.A. Milne
One "weed" which came as an unwelcome tag-along to wheat or corn is a native of Europe where it is simply called "the Corn Cockle". The species is a weed of cereals and other crops, but because it is so attractive has become a flower of choice by many for their gardens.
The name "corn cockle" comes from its appearance in the corn fields of England, where it has been unwelcome for years. However, its 3- to 4-foot height with rosy pink to fuchsia flowers rippling in the wind make it a welcome addition to the garden, where it will bloom from June on.
What we can learn from the Corn Cockle is that even if you look good and seem useful (the seeds were early used to treat all sorts of ailments including cancer but now found to be toxic) if you are harmful or crowd out the more nutritious plants, you will be shunned. If, however, you stick to what you do best--in this case a pretty flower, you will be adored and included.
Pretty is As Pretty Does
The King's Cure-All
Evening primrose is a wildflower that grows throughout the U.S., and has served as food and medicine throughout history, often for upset stomach and respiratory infections. The oil is found in the plant's seeds and is high in the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Native Americans ate the boiled, nutty-flavored root, and used leaf poultices from the plant for bruises and hemorrhoids. In the 17th century, European settlers took the root back to England and Germany, where it was introduced as food and became a popular folk remedy, earning the name king's cure-all. The plant was also a Shaker medicine, sold commercially. In the wild, evening-primrose acts as a primary colonizer, quickly appearing wherever a patch of bare, undisturbed ground may be found. This means that it tends to be found in poorer environments such as dunes, roadsides, railway embankments and wastelands where it eventually is out-competed by other species.
What we can learn from the Evening Primrose is that if our talents are not as stellar as others, we must make every opportunity count. If we are able to soothe hurts of others, we will be valued and protected and if we contribute what others really need we will be treated royally.
A Stranger is a Weed Until We Make them a Friend
A weed is a friend we haven't met yet
A door we haven't opened
A course we haven't charted
A letter we haven't read
A speech we've never heard
A melody never played
A habit we haven't formed
A stranger is a weed until we make them a friend
©Winsome Publishing 2010
A recent hub highlights a perfect day: It Was One of Those Surprise Days
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Thank you Sheila. I "weedy weedy" appreciate it. =:)
I really enjoyed your hub.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Loria. Thank you for stopping by the weed patch. =:)
Winsome, I too have marveled over weeds. I'm amazed at how hard we try to kill them and all the while they are so strong and independent while the plants we nurse, pamper and baby are weaklings compared to WEEDS. We kill the strong and baby the weak. hummm... This is a great hub. I love it! A BIG FAT RATE UP and Must Read! Peace :)
E.J.Salisbury is so right! You've put this hub together with grace and style, Winsome. I think I'll pick you and put you in my very favorite vase. Okay?
great hub reading learning hub thanks
A friend recently likened me to kudzu, a most tanacious weed, and I took it as a great compliment. This is a wonderful perspective on the "eye of the beholder." Thank you!
Katie, thank you for your comment--maybe we can take a lesson from what you say--when you smother and baby something it may wither, but let it seek it's own way and watch it thrive. =:)
Lorlie you are such a sweetheart. I would thrive in your favorite vase--(I do however require lots of chocolate.) =:) I'm writing this in my fave chocolate cafe Leonidas in old town Pasadena. Did you know they melt milk and dark fine Belgian chocolates down with milk for their hot chocolate--yummmmm!
The Voice, I have enjoyed you fine comments in my journeys on hubpages, so glad to see you stop by. Thank you for your kind words.
Laura, I'm sure they meant that in the nicest way--you are a survivor, but I would have picked one like the Starflower that is beautiful as well. Thanks for the gracious comment.
Oh, yes, in fact, he imbued kudzu with so much charm it will forevermore bring a smile to my face wherever I encounter it...and now the the starflower, as well!
Great hub idea. Loved it. Loved linking in those human traits with actual weeds and matching human behavior to the plants. I personally feel my grass is a weed that is hindering my "creeping charlie" (a weed with pretty purple flowers). If I'm not mistaken. Grass ITSELF is a weed already. Isn't it?
I'm a lot like poison ivy. I make people break out into all kinds of crap. Some say I've made them itch too.
Nice job. Love the metaphor of weeds as people. I've noticed that many of history's most revered were quite weed-like. Franklin, Einstein, and Van Gogh all abandoned their families, including children. But maybe this is a misappropriation of your concept of weed, an insult to weeds everywhere?
Hey John, you made me smile there. That's the whole point of the article--sometimes, what we think is an intruder is more welcome than the one we thought belonged.
You picked a great example, while most people think of it as a weed because of its propensity for spreading, Creeping Charlie was a veritable medicine chest for early settlers. Europeans brought it to America because it functioned like hops to improve and clarify beer, hence the name Alehoof. When you had a cold or were congested, neighbors would make a tea that was high in Vitamin C and give it to you for anti-inflammation, congestion and mucous control. It was said to relieve tinnitus or ringing in the ears and even helped as a diuretic to remove lead from your system.
It's a member of the mint family so that when you mow it along with your grass, it has a wonderful (I'm told) aroma making the chore almost pleasurable. Since it can restart from bits of root, you either have to welcome it as a part of your landscape family or completely kill everything and start over. Like pushy cousins or aunts or uncles, you just have to live with em cause you can't kill em. =:) Thanks for the great comment.
Micky, when I read your hubs I break out into prose or singing and immediately get the itch to grab my bike and hit the hills. You can be a weed in my garden anytime. =:)
Hello I Scribble. Love your name by the way. You are absolutely correct about the ones you mentioned. Franklin was like Creeping Charlie, he had so many uses and talents that he was imported to Europe on America's behalf and wound up cropping up everywhere in society. Lucky for us he became a charming, indispensable part of our country's heritage.
Van Gogh was a lot like the Corn Cockle--he was almost toxic in his social skills, but oh could he create beauty.
Thank you for your comment.
I forgot to mention that I love the quotes you included. May have to borrow some of them sometime. What was your source(s) for this hub?
I love your perspective and am a little upset I didn't think of it myself. Rated up!
Thanks I S. I would like to cite several Library of Congress tomes and several Los Angeles Library reference monsters, but alas I relied on search engines including the one hooked to my brain. =:) Oh and Einstein was a weed that led to a small but deadly infestation of radioactive mushrooms.
Stan, I waited and waited, but I just had to go ahead. The weeds of inspiration were growing out my ears and would have escaped had I not nailed them down to a hub. The word is that no one can keep them from proliferating all over the place. They should be infiltrating your Hair Ignition hub any minute now. Good news though, I understand a lot of them, especially that Creep Charlie is good at getting the lead out. =:)
Wow, thanks Winsome for sharing my poem through your link! Really appreciate it, and this hub!!!!!
This is an excellent hub. I love the comparison listing the attributes of weeds to personalities. You wrote this hub beautifully with grace.
A few years ago my county had a Woad round up. They paid kids $5 for every grocery sack full they gathered and brought in. Evidently, it was very successful, because I can't find it any where. Now I will have to plant it in my garden and make sure it doesn't go to seed.
The funny thing about all this is, they want to make sure that non-native plants don't take over the area, but nearly every 'native' plant here came from Europe.
Weeds, transplanted people, and the undiscovered are what make life interesting.
Faithfulpen, the pleasure is all mine.
Pamela thank you, Juliet knew a Montague was a weed but her Romeo was a rose and so "by any other name.." she kept him in her garden.
Ivorwen, isn't it the truth--people move from one place to another (like transplanted "weeds" from LA living in Seattle) and then try to keep others like themselves from coming there because they want to keep "outsiders" out. John Burroughs got it right when he said the most "human" plants are the weeds.
I'm beginning to think that we would be a lot better off if we could find more ways to enjoy our differences than finding ways to make us all alike. =:)
I am going out this morning to pick the dandelions to make wine for a friend. Great read. Thank you.
For reals? How wonderful. I'm glad there is someone out there who lives what we write. Way to go!...and thanks for stopping by.
I completely LOVE this Hub! The comparisions you made between human traits and weeds are wonderful! Very thoughtfully written with beautiful examples! I loved the photos too! Thanks so much for not only entertaining me, but for making me think too!
Cathi, you are a bright smile on my face. Thank you for your kind words. The more I learn about weeds the more I pay attention to the friends I haven't made yet and look for more to like in the ones I already have. =:)
Thank you very much Winsome! Compared to you, my writing is very seedy! I am now a new fan!
Lol, thank you John, seeds grow into marvelous things. I will be visiting your garden soon.
What an interesting as well as informative take on weeds? Thanks, Winsome, for your literary inspiration. Weed all benefit from it.
Hey what would Happy Days be without the Fonz? Seinfeld without Kramer? Hubpages without you and me? Just kidding. Thanks for the kind words. =:)
thanks for sharing nice ideas
You are so welcome Lgali. Thank you for stopping by.
I love the variation of this hub. The way you intertwined your philosophical explanation with the definition of weeds was genus. And the quotes added the extra nuance. Great hub. I'll be back.
Thank you so much Freta. Using practical applications for philosophical truths goes way back to writers like Aesop and we all know how effective parables are. "Consider the lilies of the field..." I figure if it's good enough for The Carpenter, it's good enough for me. =:)
This is a great hub for wildflower season. I like your quote about weeds as an example of resilience.
I'm a weed and proud of it. I happen to like some of the flowers people call weeds.
Yes Sandy, I am a proud weed too. Maybe we could have our own association--Wonderful Eclectics Enjoying Diversity. =:)Thanks for visiting.
I read this quite some time ago. It was one of the hubs that inspired me to join. I appreciate your use of a "controlling metaphor" --weeds are like people. When I waa a child, I used to pick dandelions for dandelion greens, which I hated. I also always loved to blow the seeds into the breeze.
Great slant - people compared to weeds! So true the weeds are only a weed when they are where we do not want them, same as some people would be better suited in other vocations and or relationships. In the right place all weeds (people) are beautiful plants (wonderful friends/souls).
Trouble is, ( or should I say beauty is) "the toe bone is connected to the foot bone" same as those darn weeds are connected to every garden I ever planted.
Ain't life just Dandy Ly'n round - no doubt planning your next great mint to pepper us with. As the wind blows and the sun flowers unfolding the next morning glory, no doubt you will tumble, weed out some good quotes and deliver us another star flower hub.
Love - Light - Laughter
Neil
Mystery Lady, how did I know you were one of those whimsical people who fell under the humble dandelion's spell...thank you for your kind words. =:)
Lol, "tumble, weed" I get it. Thanks Neil. I'm going to spend some time visiting other weed patches now that my "motivation" research project is over. =:)
Nice hub, Winsome. I especially like the quote: "He who hunts for flowers will find flowers; and he who loves weeds will find weeds." by Beecher. I have met a person like this. Thank you for reminding us to look for the good in people.
You are so welcome Alahiker, there is an expression of "weeding out" those you don't like, but I'm finding that a lot of my favorites are in fact--weeds. Thank you for your comment. =:)
I very much enjoyed this Hub and the thoughtful and interesting comments, too.
As I read, I couldn't help but think of a few weeds in my life right now, notably the invasive Canada thistle that I've been waging war with in my garden for going on three years. It is the object of my deepest, darkest, destructive desires. So, after reading your delightful metaphors, I went on a hunt for any benefit this scourge might have.
On a search for "benefits of Canada thistle", the most popular item returned looked like this or something close: "benefits of Canada thistle suppression." "Kill Canada thistle" was my favorite.
I don't want to think about what kinds of people may be like these weeds.
Up and awesome!
Sally, thank you for your gracious comment and for the example. Your nemesis is one of five named as an "injurious weed" in the UK Weeds Act of 1959 and lax private citizens can be fined up to 1000 pounds and "other punishment"--although one would think that the weed itself is punishment enough. This plant not only survives by its extensive deep root system, but actually puts out a biocide to prevent other plants from growing.
On the bright side, Cirsium arvense or Canada thistle or Cursed thistle--I had to laugh at that one--is cursed for it's resiliency and survivability--traits praised in humans. Global warming people would love this thing--It is a C3 carbon fixation plant that uses enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and pulls water up from deep in the soil, releasing 97% through the leaves, cooling itself and its surroundings. The seeds are a major food for the Goldfinch and 20 species of butterflies and moths and the taproot is considered a delicacy in Scotland. The blossoms are pretty orbs of purple.
This plant is like some politicians who are feared for their deep and tenacious connections and for their ability to destroy their competition and while they may do some good their destructive and prickly nature causes much rejoicing when they are finally gone.
The brightest biological hope for Canada is a fruit fly named Orellia and a rust mite that won Picture of the Year. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rust_Mite,_
Thank you Sally for your contribution to the Weed/people gallery.
Hi Winsome,
Lovely hub with lovely photos. Not to mention, very educational.
I remember as a kid being fascinated with milkweed. If my memory serves me correctly, I'd squeeze the milky substance out and use it like a lotion. I don't think it helped :)
My late grandmother, a very proper lady, did a rather naughty thing. I was 17 and going on my class trip to Washington D.C. She handed me a bubble bath bottle to take with me. I thought, how sweet. She then told me be careful with it and to keep it hidden. When I asked why, she said with a smile, it's my homemade dandelion wine. I was flabbergasted. She had gone ahead and boiled the bubblebath bottle so she could use it, and, if it were spotted on my trip, noone would have been the wiser. Crafty woman!
After that experience, I made sure to pick all the dandelions I could find :)
Ha ha, another great story Trish, your grandmother sounds like a fun lady. It's a humorous vision to think of this very proper lady with her contraband homemade dandelion wine. Very funny. =:)
Yes, she was a wonderful woman. Sadly, I lost her just before I turned 18. My grandfather died 5 years later. I spent the better part of my childhood spending weekends at their house. It was my favorite place to be :)
Great hub--very interesting with awesome quotes. Interesting side-note to the Dandelion: its name is a corruption/mispronunciation of its French name, "Dent de Lion," (correctly pronounced, "Don duh leeyon") or "Lion's Teeth," so named because of the sharp points of its flower. It is easy to see how the transmutation happened from French to English. You mention it as a diuretic--also an ancient bit of knowledge. Going again, back to the French, a common, or vulgar name of the plant is "pis en lit," translated as 'wet the bed.' (or less politely and more accurately, "piss in the bed.")
Thanks for stopping by my hub and leaving a comment. I'll be following you now. ;-)
Great to have you DML, thank you for the lovely addition to the weedlore. Those French called it like it was didn't they. Vive le pis en lit. =:)
Mysterylady read my weed hub (Plant Racism lol) and mentioned she had a hub about you and your weed hub, which I read, and then came here to read the subject of her hub to find that it was just as delightful as she said it was. First, I'm pretty happy to be in the company of such weedy writers as Emerson (a personal favorite), Beecher and Milne, not to mention yourself. Second, I love the optimism and kindness that fills this piece. A little window into who you really are, I bet. :)
Shadesbreath thank you so much for your gracious and insightful words. Can't wait to read your Plant Racism hub...and yes this weed is trying to be a little kinder and optimistic instead of trying to take over the garden. Live and let live is a good motto for a reformed weed. =:)
As usual a very interesting hub I love weeds and I loved this hub and I am so happy that you have identified some of the weeds that I encounter when taking my dog for a walk.
Photography is one of my passions; I love taking photographs especially macros. I have found that often something that you wouldn’t give a first glance to when looked at close up actually can turn out to be amazing.
I find people are like that too, when we take the time to look properly most people turn out to be really interesting and to have all sorts of qualities and experiences that you will not see if you just skim the surface of their lives. I look on people as God’s gift to us and all we have to do is to look closely in order to find out what treasure he has stored in them for our enjoyment. I have yet to be disappointed. Thumbs up!!
I forgot to say I loved the photos and and thought that your poem A Stranger is a Weed at the end was wonderful.
And what a macro delight you are. The closer I get to you Maggs the more I find to enjoy. Thank you for a great addition to the weed metaphor. I had written the words--A Stranger is a friend you haven't met yet some time ago and when I wrote this hub, I knew why I had written it. That became the basis for the poem and (I thought) a fitting ending to the piece. Thank you again for your great comment.
Not what I expected from the title - I enjoyed reading it and the line of thought it followed. Thank you, and for the photo of the corncockle I have a photo of one that grew in the garden, but could not remember its name - mystery solved. BTW I never thought of it as a weed such a pretty flower.
Hi 2uesday, I am so glad you are not a weed bigot..ha ha..I love the blossoms of all the "weeds" in the article. I think if I told people I was a weed advocate they might get the wrong idea but like Juliet said (sort of): "A flower by any other name..." Thank you for the visit 2uze. =:)
I have a rule for my yard; only pull spurge and other noxious weeds that threaten to take over and push the rest out. I love all my flowering weeds! Thanks for an inspirational hub- love all the quotes and especially Milne.
Hey Storyteller, you sound like my kind of gardener. Some plants we plant and some just come and adopt us. I'm like you, if they play nice they can stay. Thank you for the kind words. =:)
Hey Winsome great hub! Informative and a good analogy at the same time.
Hey Morgan, you must be exhausted from running all over HP getting acquainted with the challenge folk. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my weed patch. =:)
Love the analogies - very creative, Winsome ...
Thanks Gerg, it ain't easy being weed what with all the weed killers out there, but we seem to thrive anyway. Cantankerous and unique and just maybe the best thing that ever happened to a garden. Appreciate the kind words. =:)
Plants are wonderful and you've created a wonderful one here! Thanks for all the ideas - and I'm grateful to Mysterylady for her Hub about this Hub - two great Hubs to read together.
Love and peace
Tony
Good to see you Tony, I'm glad you enjoyed both the garden and metaphor. I've learned a lot about weeds and gained a greater appreciation than I already had. Scientists look to the rain forest for new discoveries but sometimes the best ones occur in our very own gardens. Thank you for gracing mine. =:)
Very, very sweet and cute. I love the moral of the story ;-)
Thank you Charlise, you are sweet to say so. The moral is one of my favorites--especially today. We all need each other and those who can see the good points of people are the ones who benefit the most. =:)
This hub is full of gems Winsome. The poem at the end is wonderful and I'll have to bookmark this in case I ever want to quote you.
What a nice and appropriate thing for a "Jewels" to say. I've always said that I'd like to live a life that would be quoted. It's comforting to know my little "weed words" will be welcomed in the gardens of HP'ers like you. =:)
Winsome, What a charming, endearing, gallant summary of the life and times of four colorful, useful weeds! In particular, I like your starting out with starflower, which is one of my favorites precisely for the reasons that you mention: blue color and sweet taste. Additionally, I like your bringing in the dandelion which brings so much joy into children's lives (and so much aggravation into modern yards).
Thank you for sharing, voted up + all.
Respectfully, Derdriu
Aww you like weeds too. I'm glad. I thought I was the only one who was for the underdog. I think it's not so much rooting (ha ha) for the underdog, but trying to see something useful and beautiful in everyone--and plants.
Thank you for the wonderful comment. So nice to meet you. =:)
- Worldandnation: Human weeds
When we can't value the differences of others, society can make some unspeakable choices. This article takes a look at a time in our history when many thought that "weeding" out certain humans was a good idea.
sheila b. Level 4 Commenter 2 years ago
So much on many levels here. I really enjoyed all you wrote.