Little, yellow, not-so-different
London, ON, May 2009
About this photo: We're winding down our exploration of all things yellow (you can still submit yours by clicking here.) It's been such an eye-opening journey that I think I'll toss more colors into the hopper for future Thematic Photographic themes. You game? Either way, a new theme's coming Wednesday. Scroll down to see what it'll be.Our province finally opened its eyes and enacted a sweeping anti-pesticide bylaw that took effect this spring. For the most part, landowners are now banned from using a range of chemicals to keep their lawns looking silky smooth.
What does that mean? Well, aside from my no longer having to worry that my goat-like dog will grow a third ear from eating the neighbor's grass before I catch sight of the little "just sprayed" sign, it means the elusive perfect lawn has just become that much more elusive. Welcome to dandelion city, folks.
Which begs the question: who decides what is and is not a weed? As I drove past this stretch of grass one fine morning, I was struck by how arresting the endless stretch of yellow looked. Why, then, was this hardy little flower seen as a pest? Frankly, I'd rather deal with yellow weeds - a known entity, if you will - than the mysterious long-term effects of cosmetic herbicides and pesticides on me and my family.
What's nuttier than letting supposed weeds overrun the landscape is risking our future health for the sake of an unnaturally uniform stretch of green turf. Something told me the planet got along fine before all this crap was invented, and it'll do just fine now, too.
Your turn: Lawn chemicals...yea or nay?
Almost forgot: Drop in tomorrow (Wednesday) at 7:00 p.m. EDT when we'll unveil the first Thematic Photographic entry of the new week. And what, pray tell, will the new theme be?
Human
Please chew on this one for a bit...see ya back here tomorrow...
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27 comments:
Human - that one is easy and hard at the same time!
Enjoyed your yellow posts this week :-)
NAY!! We used to have a lawn service and when they put out chemicals to kill weeds, etc., I couldn't walk outside for 2 days - or I coughed and my eyes burned. I told them never to use that stuff on my yard again.
I love dandelions. They are so much more friendly than a smoothly manicured lawn.
Nay!
Let the yellow unfurl beautifully.
Aloha from Waikiki, Carmi
It's not really a weed until it turns white and starts spreading. Nice colorful shot though.
And speaking of "Human", I don't know if you heard it or not but one of my favorite bloggers has just been given some major -- and well-deserved -- props. She'll never say anything about it, but you know I will.
And I did...
It Couldn't Happen to A Better Person
love your perspective. I think a weed is up to each person, anything in your yard that is not wanted is a weed
Dandelions are a perfect subject right now. I think we should declare them flowers to be sought after. Not weeds. Besides, they reproduce abundantly, children love them, they're inexpensive, require no care, and are fun to blow when they go to seed. They also contrast nicely with green leaves and grass.
You can eat them, by the way. Rather bitter, I understand, but it's good for the digestion. You can even make dandelion fritters. All around, they're a pretty good deal, I'd say! And all the more reason to keep the pesticides OFF.
Great shot Carmi, I've always liked dandelions myself. I'm a definite nay on the chemicals too - much more of a "gimme spots on my apples and leave me the birds and the bees" type of girl.
I'm launching a new photo meme on the 31st - Summer Stock Sunday - come check it out!
I happen to love dandelions, this is a very nice shot Carmi!
pretty dandelions! Well, I'm nay for the chemicals. God knows, we have a lot of illnesses and other side effects of those that are running and floating around.
They're gorgeous! Happy WW
In my mind, a house is not a home without a few dandelions in the yard!
nay
Weed or not, I still think it is pretty :)
Beautiful and thought provoking as always. We collect dandelions over here and make beautiful spring wreaths of them, May 1st. Pro-dandelion, then.
The kids are still little and alove to pick flowers so I get buckets full.
All I know is, they make me sneeze!
Great post.
I don't think they are all that necessary, but then I worry about those companies that make their livings spraying lawns.
i must say, even if this is cnsidered just a weed...i so love it! especially the yellow!:)
Ah, memories of childhood and the hours spent in contemplation of things as simple as a dandelion.
That's funny, I just asked for advice on twitter--for non poisonous options to get rid of snails in my garden--and then I saw your post.
Never thought much about pesticides until I had my 3 sweet babies....now I think a lot about what's safe and natural and chemical free....
no way! chemicals are evil!
we should learn to accept natural beauty for what it is!
Thats a lotta words for a wordless post .. LOL ...
Dandelions aren't weeds when one of my boys' first Springtime gestures was to pick a bunch and present the flowers to Mommy...sweet yellow memories!
My daughter LOVES Dandelions! Just yesterday she looked out the car window and said "Look at the wishing dandelions!" I didn't know what she meant at first. She was talking about the white ones gone to seed. The kids make wishes and blow them, spreading more dandelion love!
You know... I was thinking about this just the other day! We live in the country. We don't have "lawn" grass in our yard. We have patchy, scruffy country grass peppered with dandelions, little red wild flowers, clover and more. And I thought - now WHO GOT TO DECIDE DANDELIONS WERE WEEDS ANYWAY? I mean, even the thistle with it's purple fluffs are pretty. But at least they sting so I can see why they'd undesirable in a yard. But dandelions? Who's ever been hurt by a dandelion? :P
I say Boo! to chemicals. If someone must, there are organic means. But did you know that dandelions are edible? I even think they smell good.
I asked my botany professory once what constituted a weed. His response? Whatever you decide is a weed is a weed.
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