No-spray zone
London, ON, May 2009
As we continue to explore this week's Thematic Photographic theme, spring has sprung (click here to share yours), it occurs to me that not all explosions of new post-winter life are welcome explosions. I've never really understood society's general aversion to dandelions, however. We call them weeds, for some odd reason, and in many jurisdictions we blast them into oblivion with noxious spraying that'll give our grandchildren extra limbs that come in especially handy at the grocery store.
But not in mine, as London now has a bylaw that bans most lawn chemicals. Which means scenes like this are pretty damn common these days. And as much as most folks around me whine incessantly about the fact that "the perfect lawn" is now but a memory, I can't help but stand before a limitlessly yellow field like this and think nature's managed to figure out what isn't welcome and what is.
Perfection's overrated, in my book.
Your turn: What's a weed, anyway? And who decides? And who elects those who decide?
One more thing: New TP theme launches Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. I'm still on the fence as to what that theme should be. If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears.
its funny you should say that, me and sha (my wife) argue all the time as she wanders the garden zapping what she calls weeds and call wild flowers. Dandelions are indeed flowers!
ReplyDeleteDid you know dandelions are a good companion for tomato plants?
this is how i feel about Dandelions.
ReplyDeleteI live surrounded by woods and see so many Wildflowers (weeds ?), i think they are all beautiful
sorry, link was not working
ReplyDeletehttp://throughthelense-twain12.blogspot.com/2010/04/ode-to-dandelions-or-why-i-shouldnt-cut.html
Well, as you know one man's weed is another's dandelion. I like the name dandelion...so interesting. Must look that up.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. Dandelions are lovely. Ottawa has a pesticide ban so their crop is big this year.
ReplyDeleteIMO, a field of dandelions is beautiful! The teller they are, the more they sway in the wind.
ReplyDeleteIf it weren't for the dandelions in our yard, my 3 year old daughter wouldn't have anything to bring me and say, "Look, Mommy! I found you the perfect flower."
ReplyDeleteA couple of months ago, scientists in a closed lab proved that a chemical used as weed killer caused some male frogs to turn into female frogs. Not just act like females, they turned into females and reproduced. If it's doing that to frogs, what is it doing to our little boys? To us? I wish chemicals would be banned everywhere.
I'm so glad your neighborhood bans those chemicals. Wish they all did. And I love dandelions, and many other "weeds".
ReplyDeleteI dig them out by hand, each year, and have filled LARGE boxes with them. my mother thinks they are nice.
ReplyDeleteThis year I may let her have her wish... a whole slew of them blooming... I may even give them some fertilizer.
Mom is in a steeper decline than ever... i am holding up