Quote of the Day — Weeds
Beauty really is in the eyes of the beholder. For many years I could not understand why everyone else didn’t appreciate all those pretty yellow flowers (dandelions) and that strange purple flower that always grew in my yard. They added a little bright color to my poor balding yard which, most of the time, had more dirt than grass in it.
Alas it seems only my grandchildren and I appreciate their true beauty.
I have tried to look at my yard with more grown up eyes and I try each year make my yard look magazine perfect but, to my daughter’s dismay, I usually fail and fail badly, so I dedicate today’s quote to her:
A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except to grow in rows. : ) : )
-Jill
Yes, but don’t forget, A weed is a flower out of place. 
-Tawra
Jill, I never understood either why people don’t appreciate dandelions. I figured if God went through the trouble of making them such a pretty yellow color than they are to be appreciated. Maybe I have a child-like spirit and find joy in simple, ordinary things. There is a Saint in the Catholic Church whose name is
“St Therese of the Little Flower” and she was wondering one day why God made people different and why some people have more than others in many ways, spiritually and materially, and she felt that God answered her in her heart with this answer. People are like flowers in the Garden of God. Some are showy and fancy like roses or lilies and some are more humble like violets and wildflowers, but all were created by God and are pleasing to Him. He gave to each exactly what He wanted to give and every flower can’t be a rose or a lily because then the garden would be boring. It’s just like in Heaven, some people will be greater Saints than others, through their own choices they made in life, but just like a timble or a big drinking glass, each will be filled with all the happiness they can hold. Filled to their capacity. Back to the dandelions. I tasted one of the best jellies in my life when I had dandelion jelly from the farmers market. It’s as sweet as honey and it a golden sparking color in the sunlight, so it does have value.
I love dandelions, too! My husband and I own a landscaping company and people are always surprised that we have a lawn full of dandelions and clover. Plain old green lawns are boring and weedkiller is SO bad for people, pets and all the wild critters that live around us.
I completely agree with you!!! I just love Dandelions! My neighbors hate them, but guess what, it is my yard! A weed is a plant growing where you don’t want it to grow…..I WANT them to grow there!
I thank God for what he plants and grows in my yard too. I never could understand the concept of putting chemicals (fertiziler, pestacides, and heracides)and water on the lawn because then I have to cut it using, human and petroleum energy.
My gardening skills are hit and miss at best. People wonder why I let things live that they would move or destroy. My thinking is it is green and living so go for it.
My mother once had a plant in the middle of her flower garden and couldn’t identify it so since it was thriving she let it go. Turned out it was a kulrabi plant. Best one in the bunch she had planted some the year before in the vegetable garden but a seed travelled to the front garden in some unknown way and it was a beautiful kulrabi. the years before harvest wasn’t the greatest but that was ok since we didn’t like kulrabi.
This year I will stick with herbs and globe asters and my many flowering bushes.
Jill, I thought I was the only one who felt that way about dandelions, so thank you for writing this. I was down at the bus stop the other day with the cackling hens (the other moms), and they were going on and on about how so many yards in our neighborhood looked “awful” because of all the dandelions. I kept my mouth shut (my husband would say that’s a first for me), and said nothing, even though I disagreed. I am from California originally, and so I just thought that maybe Virginians liked the highly manicured look, while we Californians were a bit more relaxed about the weeds. But now I see that there are others in many parts of this country who see all of those yellow flowers and don’t necessarily shudder
Dandelions are such an amaziing flower. Think about the fact that they are many individual flowers rolled into one. They are one of the first flowers our bees work and what is better for breakfast than fresh dandelions greens mixed with scrambled eggs !
Violets give us such wonderful scents and what is better than a small bouquet- hand delivered in a puggie little hand and a great big smile ?? Ah, the flowers of spring…..the memories they bring back.
I saw my first dandelion of the year. It put a hugh smile on my face!!
Young dandelion leaves and even the flowers are edible!! Pick some tender leaves, wash well and throw them in a salad! The flowers can be washed and fried for a treat!
Have you ever thought about eating the dandelions in or as a salad? Just make sure you use them BEFORE they sprout a flower.
I love our dandelions! The greens make great salad vegetables or soup greens. The flowers make great marmalade and wine. What a fabulously useful plant! And it’s free!
Wow…Our daughter(now 17) used to call them “DANDY LIONS”!! What great memories this brings back!!! Nothing better than a bunch in a jar from little hands that picked them just for you!!! I will admit I was never crazy about her blowing the seed pod in my face to show me how they ‘worked’! LOL