Yo howdy All Y’all – it is a beautiful day!
“What kind of place grows waves of weeds?
Thick weeds, thin weeds, weeds that grow in stacks.
Tough weeds, fuzzy weeds, even weeds that grow in cracks – are wild weeds, native wild weeds – the kind of weeds that love to bloom!”
I like to think of them all as a congregation of weeds – with varieties of characteristics, a broad diversity of growth patterns, colors, textures, shapes, sizes, and blooms. This time of year – as they sprout – a lotta weeds all look alike. Plants we want to grow or transplant, but also weeds that quickly can become challenging to a truly open and affirming congregation of diverse weeds.
We have five or six types of dandelions growing, but only two types intentionally (though all look alike when sprouts). Little ones with six inch spikes of stacked blooms that fill in open areas anywhere – I’ve resigned to welcome these randomly thru the courtyard garden.
On the San Antonio hillside intentionally grow thick ground covers of nutritious dandelion greens with mounds of low yellow flowers. Both have already begun to bloom. These grow well on slopes, and for a couple years now have helped retain and build the terraces on the hillside. They also grow in cracks, but I try to limit their range. The big, fuzzy grey-green mullein will be intentionally more utilized; it’s extremely drought and heat tolerant with an attractively dynamic two-year growth cycle into bloom. It also grows in cracks. Just so y’all know, along the edges and where not blocking foot traffic, I will not be clearing all cracks of all weeds. I’ll be embracing the nature of the weeds – but if the wilding bugs anyone – “all are welcome” to weed.
I’m excited anticipating the blooms of the pink evening primrose. It’s a weed, it covers lots of ground, actually enriches the soil, and golly, I think it’s purty. It grows well in cracks, too, and— just so y’all know, I’ll be leaving two plants growing in the cracks between our front pink- granite steps. One plant in front of the rarely opened doors on each side of our two primary front doors. I like the idea of pink flowers appearing to grow out of solid granite.
Again, if this wilding bugs anyone’s sense of keeping up appearances – y’all are welcome to weed. I think of the wilding as a metaphor – plants often outcast from conventional garden congregations, being welcomed to grow, being affirmed in that growth though sometimes by being shepherded to places where their unique characters can better develop with enhanced appreciation. As people, children of a gracious Creator, may we learn to be an open and welcoming congregation. Leonard Cohen sings in “Anthem”: “There’s a crack, a crack in everything, that’s how the Light gets in…that’s how the Light gets in.”
Our urban sanctuary is also a food sanctuary. The winter crop was diminished by the extended days below freezing (now three “unusual” years in a row), but much survived. We now have kale, collards, Swiss chard, lettuce, cabbage, beets, turnips, onions, peas and beans growing; peppers, squash, eggplant and tomatoes to come. Lots of different herbs, too. And one artichoke! The goal is to grow a ton of produce this year for the hungry from our urban sanctuary. And also grow some pretty weeds as gifts to the street.
Be well be safe know joy. Phil