I like to grow roses, so a couple weeks ago I went to a talk by a retired plant biologist who is active in our local rose society. After lots of do’s and don’ts about roses, we got to the final chapter, a discussion of weeds. With great excitement, he pulled out a basket full of weeds he’d taken from his garden that morning and told us the Latin names, how they grow, and the astounding number of seeds each produces. I got the feeling these weeds were frenemies to him, troublesome only because of their incredible vigor, but amazing in their own right. I’ve been looking at them that way ever since!
I'm learning to call "weeds" unwanted plants. It's more accurate, according to my botanist brother. As to the aesthetics of waste spaces, I was waiting for my car to be serviced and took a walk around several blocks of muddy parking lots, empty lots and old office bindings with bad landscaping, and created in my mind a national monument, naming the various features. I photographed it extensively and plan to make some kind of art with it.
Spanish also has wonderful compound words such as rompecabeza (puzzle), rascacielo (skyscraper) and, a bit puzzlingly, buscapies (firecracker). Cant forget guardaespalda (body guard).
Your weed prompt reminds me of the 'colour walk' trend where one goes out and gives attention to spotting a specific colour, texture, shape, etc. It's really great for looking at things in a different light.
My partner lovingly calls me kudzu for my proclivity to hang on him (I like touch a lot). Weeds are strong and opinionated and grow where they damn well please. We can learn much from them!
Loved this! Have always marvelled at the resilience of weeds. And have hardly thought of them as humble. I watched the new Planet of the Apes movie recently and was particularly struck by the lush sets depicting 21st century human infrastructure entirely covered in overgrown vegetation, essentially resilient weeds! Your writing made me think of that again.
Traffic signs, fire hydrants, utility poles have become invisible to most of us. But hang a retired stop sign in a bedroom and you have a bold graphic. Andy Warhol made millions reproducing the campbells soup cans that he enjoyed for lunch everyday. My favorite photographic subject is the ancient and retired and forgotten gas pump. Overtaken by weeds, the gas pump is almost swallowed whole by nature. There’s so little of this left.
I love thoseWeeds Thriving On Abandoned Infrastructure too! There’s a tendency these days to think of life and nature as very fragile but these weeds are like, “Well, actually…”
Thanks for the shoutout too… I had a feeling you’d get a kick out of Caroline Weaver.
Weeds ... I now just refer them as plants - just ones that are incredible successful in the habitat they are growing).
Do highly recommend the book Weeds by Richard Mabey - which takes a deep dive into some of the most common UK weeds. One chapter is on Rosebay willowherb which was the first plant to return on WWII bomb sites after the blitz.
If you want to read more, then Islands of Abandonment by Cal Flynn is a wonderful and at times hopeful read. She travels the world, finding plants thriving in the most surprising places - Chernobyl included.
This was my first time reading the newsletter, glad I subscribed! I’ve spend some time noticing the paving stones in my workplace’s yard the other week and also noticed the weeds that spread from the flower patches between the stones. I think it’s a beautiful way of nature not giving up 😊
I like to grow roses, so a couple weeks ago I went to a talk by a retired plant biologist who is active in our local rose society. After lots of do’s and don’ts about roses, we got to the final chapter, a discussion of weeds. With great excitement, he pulled out a basket full of weeds he’d taken from his garden that morning and told us the Latin names, how they grow, and the astounding number of seeds each produces. I got the feeling these weeds were frenemies to him, troublesome only because of their incredible vigor, but amazing in their own right. I’ve been looking at them that way ever since!
Oh I love that! Thanks!
Remember, weeds are plants growing where humans don't want them to grow
I'm learning to call "weeds" unwanted plants. It's more accurate, according to my botanist brother. As to the aesthetics of waste spaces, I was waiting for my car to be serviced and took a walk around several blocks of muddy parking lots, empty lots and old office bindings with bad landscaping, and created in my mind a national monument, naming the various features. I photographed it extensively and plan to make some kind of art with it.
Spanish also has wonderful compound words such as rompecabeza (puzzle), rascacielo (skyscraper) and, a bit puzzlingly, buscapies (firecracker). Cant forget guardaespalda (body guard).
Thanks for this and I LOVE the sound of your national monument. Please keep me / us posted!
Your weed prompt reminds me of the 'colour walk' trend where one goes out and gives attention to spotting a specific colour, texture, shape, etc. It's really great for looking at things in a different light.
My partner lovingly calls me kudzu for my proclivity to hang on him (I like touch a lot). Weeds are strong and opinionated and grow where they damn well please. We can learn much from them!
Loved this! Have always marvelled at the resilience of weeds. And have hardly thought of them as humble. I watched the new Planet of the Apes movie recently and was particularly struck by the lush sets depicting 21st century human infrastructure entirely covered in overgrown vegetation, essentially resilient weeds! Your writing made me think of that again.
Oh, I'm always happy to see a PoTA reference ;)
Weeds as "public art"...ultimate optimism!
Yes : )
Traffic signs, fire hydrants, utility poles have become invisible to most of us. But hang a retired stop sign in a bedroom and you have a bold graphic. Andy Warhol made millions reproducing the campbells soup cans that he enjoyed for lunch everyday. My favorite photographic subject is the ancient and retired and forgotten gas pump. Overtaken by weeds, the gas pump is almost swallowed whole by nature. There’s so little of this left.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fire-hydrant-jack
Love that fire hydrant "jack"!
Love the sidewalk photo!
Great article. I love weeds. Ivy, If I had my way, would cover my cottage!
Your sidewalk photo is so much like one I captured, down to the same bits of plant life creeping through the cracks. A gorgeous mosaic.
I love thoseWeeds Thriving On Abandoned Infrastructure too! There’s a tendency these days to think of life and nature as very fragile but these weeds are like, “Well, actually…”
Thanks for the shoutout too… I had a feeling you’d get a kick out of Caroline Weaver.
Yeah that was a great one, she's amazing!
Weeds ... I now just refer them as plants - just ones that are incredible successful in the habitat they are growing).
Do highly recommend the book Weeds by Richard Mabey - which takes a deep dive into some of the most common UK weeds. One chapter is on Rosebay willowherb which was the first plant to return on WWII bomb sites after the blitz.
If you want to read more, then Islands of Abandonment by Cal Flynn is a wonderful and at times hopeful read. She travels the world, finding plants thriving in the most surprising places - Chernobyl included.
Thank you!
Think kudzu
The Warhol of weeds !
This was my first time reading the newsletter, glad I subscribed! I’ve spend some time noticing the paving stones in my workplace’s yard the other week and also noticed the weeds that spread from the flower patches between the stones. I think it’s a beautiful way of nature not giving up 😊
Welcome! This was a weird issue -- because they are all weird issues :)