When is a weed, not a weed? When it’s pretty and you like it!

A number of years ago, I allowed a mullein to flourish in the herb garden. A visitor remarked on the then five foot high weed that was just coming into flower and suggested I hand him a shovel so he could dig it out for me. When I refused his offer and told him why the mullein was allowed to remain in the garden, he couldn’t have looked more incredulous than if I suggested he cut his right hand off.

Last year we allowed a giant thistle to grow at the back of one of our gardens (homage to Trevor’s Scottish roots). A visitor teased us about being too wimpy to remove it and suggested we try a chemical herbicide. Us!? Wimpy? Chemicals?! When I explained the significance of the thistle, he still didn’t get it, just shook his head in wonderment. Think I heard him mumble something about “Hippies”.

The lawn of our shade garden has one spot that we don’t mow. In that spot grows my absolute favourite flower ever – the Oxeye Daisy. I’ve tried growing it from seed and planting it in a garden, but without success. So I content myself with this one little plant that sprung up in the lawn. Every year we leave that area untouched until the plant has died off.

The foundation of our house has dozens of harebells growing around it. Harebells are yet another plant considered by most to be a weed. I say, how can anything so pretty be a weed? Yes they are invasive, yes they require a lot of thinning to keep them under control, but harebells are so worth it!

Violets of all colours cover our lawns each spring. Do we dig them out? No! Because they are pretty, and we like them. And, we have come to look forward to their presence every May.

Creeping Jenny covers the ditch that runs beside our property. It is another “weed” that is not disturbed because its little yellow flowers are a delight to the eyes.

Black Eyed Susans run rampant on our property. Because they are so sweet and cheerful, a good many of them are allowed to stay, but not all. I fear they would take over the whole place if we didn’t keep them in check.

Virginia Creeper is another weed we grow on purpose. The brilliant red of the leaves in autumn is breath taking and adds some much needed colour as the trees and flowers begin to fade.

Wild grape is allowed to flourish on the twig arbour beside the herb garden. The leaves make a wonderfully dappled shade canopy to sit under when taking a break from working in the garden. The birds love the tiny grapes produced, so that’s another reason to keep it. And the vines are harvested every year to use to decorate the house for autumn and Christmas displays.

So, if you see a weed, and you think it is pretty, why not leave it to grow, flower and flourish? Think of it as added a bit of wildflower gardening to your plot of land.