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WEEDS WELCOME

Discussion in 'Herbs and Wildflowers' started by BeeHappy, Oct 25, 2017.

  1. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

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    I think we all know full well what we mean by "weeds".......:noidea:
    Gardeners and non gardeners alike do "weeding"......what exactly does that mean then?
    It means controlling nature's constant ability to throw up plants that are not those we planted or want. Whatever definition is used these intruders are weeds and have the energy and dna to take over :nonofinger:
    So, personal choice.....keep these weeds or remove them. Keep them and your chosen planting will be ruined but you can have a wild plant garden. :noidea:
    For me, oxalis, bindweed, dandelions, daisies, chickweed, etc., etc., will always be unwanted "weeds"
    Nobody has responded to my earlier request, "show me a beautiful garden of weeds" :noidea:
     
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    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

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      I would like to visit this one day ...

      [​IMG]

      Right up your street @BeeHappy :highfive:
       
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      • BeeHappy

        BeeHappy Total Gardener

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        @"M" OHhhh yes me luvverly its one of me favs :wub2: ....thats why i posted the website details in the GC directory :dbgrtmb:
         
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        • "M"

          "M" Total Gardener

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          I don't read the GC directory :redface: :oops: :uh-oh:
           
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          • BeeHappy

            BeeHappy Total Gardener

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            @"M" :lunapic 130165696578242 5: wat ya like M :heehee:
             
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            • BeeHappy

              BeeHappy Total Gardener

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              A MUST view video :wub2:
               
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              • BeeHappy

                BeeHappy Total Gardener

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                Germaine Greer: stop weeding and let nature take over
                Forget buying overpriced seed packs. If you really want to help Britain’s threatened species,
                the answer is simple – stop weeding

                [​IMG]
                Field of dreams: meadow flowers such as the corn cockle are increasingly rare Photo: Alamy

                The weeds in your garden are all flowering plants, though you may not like their flowers much or even be aware that they have flowers. Yarrow, tansy, ragwort, toadflax, mulleins, mallows, clovers, willow-herbs, dead nettles, comfreys, speedwells – all are wildflowers. Some of them you hate, the bindweeds and ground ivies, maybe; but the bees and hoverflies love them. You will do more for Britain’s disappearing wildflower species if you give up weeding than you would if you planted a dozen Grow Wild seed packs.

                At the same time as the lottery was funding free seed packs for the unwary, more and more local authorities have been mowing road verges or renting road verges to local businesses who financed the mowing for them. Rather than spending scarce resources on introducing field flowers to places where they have never grown, people who care should seek out those verges that used to be the last refuge for some very special plants, where the sign “Protected Verge” stands uselessly amid the shorn grasses.

                On behalf of our thousands of wildflower species, I beg you to photograph the signs with the barren sward around them and badger the local authority by letter and petition to raise its game. Our council taxes are being spent on extirpating local wildflowers at the same time that lottery funding is being used to help people grow corn cockle in a window box. Stupid? You bet.

                When the wild things that overtake your plantings are as lovely as the two kinds of Star of Bethlehem that are happier in my garden than anything I have ever brought to it, it is easy to refrain from weeding. I am also thrilled that spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) sees fit to romp all over the borders, seeing as you can pay £60 for a single specimen in a pot. So sit back, dear reader, relax – and let nature take over.
                By Germaine Greer
                http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/10785393/Germaine-Greer-stop-weeding-and-let-nature-take-over.html
                 
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                  Last edited: Oct 27, 2017
                • BeeHappy

                  BeeHappy Total Gardener

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                  8d3837b3f25119c63983b098374c109b--the-weeds-garden-signs.jpg
                  Butterflies animated banner.gif

                   
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                    Last edited: Oct 27, 2017
                  • Linz

                    Linz Total Gardener

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                    So why did you persist in shoving your own opinions on this thread if it does not interest you?

                    So, what do you suggest for us small garden owners? Eradicate all weeds and let the numbers of wildlife and insects decline just so we can please your narrative of a pristine garden?

                    We don't have to respond to your "request" and you did not state to "show" you one in your previous post. But the lovely @"M" has shown you one :thumbsup:

                    Thanks for the links @BeeHappy :)

                    It would be near impossible for me to get rid of all the weeds in my garden as I have a railway banking and horse/cow fields behind. Not only that I really don't want to see the number decline in my area.. my allotment is only a stone's throw away and I need all the pollinators I can get :biggrin: I love speedwell, such a pretty little blue flower, oxalis iron cross I put in one of the front lawns, turned it over for a flower bed and I have them popping up everywhere! I've got clover, ragwort, dandelions, chickweed, stinging nettle, great willowherb.. you name it, (no I don't speak Latin) all in my lawn and borders and I couldn't give a toss if you like it or not, I do and that's all that counts :smile:
                     
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                    • Verdun

                      Verdun Passionate gardener

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                      :)
                       
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                        Last edited: Oct 27, 2017
                      • BeeHappy

                        BeeHappy Total Gardener

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                        @Verdun please remove your insulting raspberry from this thread ...it is totally uncalled for
                        Thanking you in advance
                         
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                        • Linz

                          Linz Total Gardener

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                          I say leave it, shows how he's unable to respond decently to valid questions. And how petty he is :Wino:
                           
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                          • Verdun

                            Verdun Passionate gardener

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                            Apologies for any offence :)
                            Clearly I have failed to understand how important this type of garden is and how sensitive this is to many of you.
                            I am not a petty person and certainly would not want to upset anybody.
                            I will refrain from posting on this thread after this post.
                            As for the "raspberry" it was not meant as such. For the record I tried to replace it as soon as posted......for some reason I could neither delete nor change it.
                            Obviously I put my views across badly but merely tried to explain.....as far as I see it.....that a mixture of "wild" plants and cultivated ones does not work. The wild plants would overwhelm the latter.
                            Hope this restores a happier relationship on the forum....for my part I can apologise no further.
                            As already implied, I will try to be more tactful with future comments :)
                             
                            Last edited: Oct 27, 2017
                          • CanadianLori

                            CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                            I'm puzzled. If something is native to your area it's most likely to be a weed but if it's native to someplace else, it's cultivated? Well it's a good thing my bees and insects can't tell which is which. I guess they're crude bees who will pollinate anything they can land on since there sure are a lot of bees out there :heehee:
                             
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                            • ARMANDII

                              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                              Oh, come on now, Guys and Gals, we all have differing, and sometimes strong, opinions on gardens, plants, weeds and Life, and how boring it would be if we didn't.:hate-shocked::snorky: I've got a feeling that if we were all sitting around a table somewhere comfortable with a glass or mug of whatever beverage we desired and had the same conversation, face to face, we'd interpret each other views differently, while possibly keeping our thoughts to ourselves.:dunno::heehee: We can read posts and agree/disagree with them... but we don't have to take advice/opinions unless we want to and think it has merit, otherwise we just can disregard any advice we don't like..........that's what my daughters do if they ask for advice i.e. totally disregard it and then look at me with that special pitying look reserved for Dad:pathd::snorky:

                              GC is a family and like all families we can have spats but we always remain friends.:thumbsup::snorky:
                               
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