Weeds

"Daddy, what is a weed?"  I have no idea how old I was when I asked that question but the answer I remember to this day. "A weed", he wisely pointed out, "is anything growing where one does not want it to grow."  I think I would now broaden that definition to include plants that thrive and multiply with no human intervention.  Hence the phrase 'growing like a weed'.

I remember feeling so bewildered when the most beautiful Texas wildflowers were hideously and most violently pulled up by their tender roots, mowed down, mulched up and thrown away as if bright primary colors, the beautiful butterflies they attracted, amazing honey bees needing the sweet necter to make honey, just on and on, were a consequence to be ignored.  

Thank you Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady of the United States and actress Helen Hays who founded the National Wildflower Research Center in 1982.  They must be my kindred spirits! Finally all these years later xeriscape, encouraging native plants and realizing they are not only essential for a healthy environment but are beautiful and to be treasured is practically mainstream practice. Which is in the words of Mary Poppins ' Practically Perfect in every way'.   

Hope you have a practically perfect Saturday...in every way. kisses