Buds and Blossoms

December / January, 2012

In the Weeds

By Joan Hinkemeyer

The short, dark days of winter envelope gardeners in a mantle of despair. All modern technological innovations fail to still the small dark voice our long-ago ancestors feared: the sun might never return and the world will plunge into perpetual darkness. Their bonfires, chants, dances and other solstice rituals to lure the sun back are mirrored today with our holiday lights and multiple festivities. After Winter solstice (Dec. 22), the sun returns as it always has.

Then each moment of additional daylight turns gardeners' spirits toward a new planting season. January may boast many sunny days, but it still is winter and a frustrating period for gardeners. Therefore, it's time for vicarious gardening via reading, and that new information will enrich the real gardening experience in spring.

Since weeds are Garden Enemy #1, I recommend Weeds, a fascinating new book by Richard Mabey. This British nature writer offers an informative and entertaining view of "nature's most unloved plants."

Who knew the unloved weed had such a colorful history?

Mabey praises their indomitable will to survive but usually in the company of human beings. They flourish through our transportation systems and the varied things we do to disturb the soil: agriculture, gardening, and trash disposal, even battlefields from centuries ago. (Weed fossils dating back 25,000 years ago have been documented).

Gardeners are only too familiar with weeds' almost diabolic resistance to eradication. The hated (by me, at least) bindweed has perfected an entire battery of survival techniques. Its sinuous roots, climbing stems and insect-attracting flowers almost guarantee immortality. Each plant produces about 600 seeds that germinate in both summer and fall and may be viable in the soil for 40 years! The root system may spread 30 yards in a single season and descend downward more than 18 feet. Little wonder we mere gardeners lose battles with this creature.

Weeds are not just domestic landscape demons, so Mabey documents their many uses for dyes and medicinal purposes. Because they were often used in healing rituals and ceremonies, the Christian church either gave them negative names such as Devil's Daisy and Devil's Eye, or elevated them with a saint's name (St. John'sWort).

Mabey acknowledges that times are changing for weeds with increased human attacks, but he cautions these may have cultural side effects and may simply result in the evolution of ever-more resilient super weeds.

Joan Hinkemeyer is a garden writer who comes from a long line of green-thumbers.