How About a Little Respect for Kudzo and Friends

Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but don't call my front yard friends "weeds!"

The Sophistocated Europeans were glad to get rid of the Riff Raff who left Europe to become the early Americans. They were considered the "weeds" of society. When they got here, they fought and struggled...and through sheer determination.... prevailed.

As nature author Michele Collins wrote:  These plants (weeds) are resilient and proud. More importantly, they are choke full of medicinal value.  Many are rich sources of vitamins and minerals and have powerful healing potential for a vast range of common diseases like diabetes, cancer, liver disease, just to mention a few. Plants like dandelion, burdock, red clover, chickweed, wild violet, couchgrass, kudzu, plantain.

Like the early pioneers, my favorite weed......in my yard ....is a survivor!

-Ed

But a weed is simply a plant that wants to grow where people want something else.  In blaming nature, people mistake the culprit.  Weeds are people’s idea, not nature’s.  ~Author Unknown

A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.  Doug Larson

I learn more about God
 from weeds than from roses;
 Resilience springing 
through the smallest chink of hope 
in the absolute of concrete….
~Phillip Pulfrey, “Weeds,” Perspectives