by Melissa Contreras Hey stupid human! Didn't I see you on David Letterman's "Stupid Human Tricks?" Was that you spreading the "weed 'n' feed" chemicals on your yard, which ended up in the water table? Was that you with the CAUTION sign posted in your yard after the lawn company employee in the anti-radiation suit sprayed some toxic chemicals on your yard?
As a "weed". I'll have you know that I am a valuable member of our environment! I can live when and where your pampered grass can't. You call me a weed, and I am offended! Weed is just a convenient term for you to describe a plant that grows where you don't want it, justifying my extermination. I refuse to be a victim of your abuse and chemical slaughter! I am a survivor! OK, I'll calm down now. Maybe it's not your fault. After all, you have been influenced by "better living through chemistry" since World War II ended, and the Lawn Weed Promotion Department does not exist. Besides, species other than Homo sapiens appreciate us. All those pretty butterflies that you like to watch in your yard really love us. Some of them can't live without us, since we are their host plants, a necessary link in the reproductive chain. Some of us are nectar plants, providing food for butterflies and bees, and attracting them to your yard so they can pollinate your vegetable garden and fruit trees too! Don't underestimate Mother Nature. She put us there for a reason. Now, go out into your yard and get down on your hands and knees. Saying a prayer wouldn't hurt, but the real reason I want you on your knees is to look at all the amazing plants living along with the grass. Even without a magnifying glass, you will really appreciate some of the tiny, gorgeous flowers we have. Even if you're not a plant geek, you like pretty things, don't you? Speaking of pretty things, here's a link to a 2-page wanted poster for lawn weeds, but illustrates why you should want us weeds in your garden! You'll recognize many of the "weeds" like Spanish needle (Bidens alba), a favorite nectar source for butterflies and bees. Bacopa, fogfruit, beggar's ticks, and pellitory will look familiar, and help you see the light. You see, stupid human, so many of these "weeds" are important to someone other than the chemical companies who sell you 'weed and feed' products. I won't freak out when you call me a weed if you say it with respect, but you might want to call us "uncultivated plants" from now on...and I'll stop calling you stupid human when you stop waging war on all non-grass plants in your yard!
|
|
