The beauty of weeds

[Dutchy]

I often look at weeds as absolutely stunning plants.
One would not want all of them in ones garden but they can at times be such a joy to get close to.

I thought why not start a thread on weeds because of their looks rather than their quality as hair raising horrors of the garden.

Here are three I shot today.
They are still alive on the old railway near my house where they can be liked without the need for taking action.

[Rosefriend]

What a marvellous idea Dutchy, and lovely photos - my neighbour - the one that doesn't do anything has loads in his garden- I will pop in tomorrow with the camera - if it isn't raining.

RF

[Dutchy]

Ah it will be raining but drooping weeds can be beauties too.
Or how about a thistle with a superb raindrop balancing on its spiky leave.

[JennyWrenn]

Were those Teasels Dutchy? I see a lot of lovely "weeds" on my walks across the fields - but are cowslips and lady's mantle weeds? Pink campion and Ragged Robin - weeds ?

I brought home a small plant from the hedgerow called Wild Violet and is wonderful ground covering but then is this a "weed" ?

If so then we do have some very pretty weeds around

[dirtyboots]

This is one of my favorite "weeds"

i151.photobucket.com/albums/s130/dirtyboots_2007/Littlewoodcelandine.jpg

[beanie]

does anyone else think that the flowers on bindweed are beautiful

[Rosefriend]

I hate to say it beanie, but yes I do - it is just the rest of the plant that leaves a lot to be desired.

RF

[nightowl]

I found this "weed" living on fresh air and dust in a car park. Now in a pot cos I love the colour. Anyone know what it is? It's about 30cms tall (prob stunted by drought) and v hairy as you can see.[/img]

[nightowl]

Oops. Let's have another go with the photo. [img src="[/img]i187.photobucket.com/albums/x70/nolawn_photo/Mysteryplant_001.jpg"]

[nightowl]

[img src="[/img]i187.photobucket.com/albums/x70/nolawn_photo/Mysteryplant_001.jpg"]

Please excuse my hopeless computer skills.
Going to look for help

[JennyWrenn]

Ask Admin for help Nolawn - we have all - well most of us - had probs to begin with posting piccies on the Board - have you got a Photo Bucket account?

jenny wrenn

[Dutchy]

I always ask Spru for help Nolawn.
My top ace trouble shooter.
I love bindweed flowers too Beanie and no I definitely do not want it in my garden.
I have Petastites which is a weed to most but I love the bold leaves and the way the flowers come up in spring.
And I know how to keep it under control.... sort of.



This is last year as the good observer may notice, snails love it too. Better than Hosta as this lives undamaged at less than a meter away.

Little wood celandine it is called?
I know it well. My mum has it in her garden. It is the best ground cover for early Spring and after wards it goes completely so no bother at all in summer and on until next Spring.
There also is plenty in the Vliegenbos, a Park that I drive by to get to work. It carpets the complete floor under the trees.
Gob smacking.

Jenny, Teasels? might be, but this English name has no meaning to me. You can use the leaves of the broad leaved ( Weegbree ) Plantago version after foolishly stinging yourself on nettles. It helps to rub a crushed leave on. This narrow leaved variety has big flowers the big leaved variety has narrow flowers.
Got to keep a balance.

[nightowl]

Thanks RF and Jenny for advice. Tried again a few times and all seemed to be going ok but still can't get photo to appear on the preview. Giving up for now, got a headache, will ask Spru as advised.

Your weeds Duchy, look like Plantains to me. Don't let them get a hold in the garden, they spread like crazy.

And yes, Bindweed flowers are lovely, like a poor man's morning glory, pity it's got such nasty habits.

[Dutchy]

;D Plantain is probably the English name.
Groot Hoefblad in Dutch ( Giant horsefoot leave? )
I love them and I find them far less invasive than Houtuynia.
A plant that is sold as a good garden plant but which white roots are all over the bed it sits in. The thick Plantain roots are easy to trace and the big leaves make perfect compost ( providing you do not get any bit of root in. )

[nightowl]

I think you must mean the big rhubarb-type plants in your last photo are Giant Horse-foot. I was meaning the small weeds in 2 of your original 3 photos are plantains.

[nightowl]

::)Another try with my lovely weed!!

[4pygmies]

Your "weed" is Borage, nolawn - a beautiful herb, the herb of gladness whose flowers can be added to summer drinks. It supposed to be a good companion plant to Strawberries as it stimulates its growth. It does self seed prolifically though.....

btw so nice to see a thread about the positive aspects of wild plants. Cheers Dutchy!
Anyone looking at hedgerows and wood edges at the moment - keep an eye out for Alkanet - a truly lovely blue flower and much underrated. Coincidentally another member of the borage family.

[nightowl]

Thanks 4pygmies. I did wonder about Borage but thought that was a lot taller. Still, mine didn't have a very good start in life. I think such a little trooper deserves a bit of TLC, at least while it's giving those lovely blue flowers.

Is it annual or perennial?

[4pygmies]

It's a self seeding annual, nolawn. They're usually about 24" tall but can vary. Once they're in your garden they're hard to get rid of!

[nightowl]

Just wanted to show you all some "weeds" in a local wood.

[Rosefriend]

Gorgeous photo nolawn - do hope that you don't mind but I have just "pinched" it for my desktop.

RF

[nightowl]

A couple more for you RF. Aren't they lovely



nolawn

[nightowl]

Ooops!

[Rosefriend]

Marvellous nolawn - thanks a lot - it is one thing that I miss very much living here - a walk through a wood full of bluebells in the Spring.

RF

[Dutchy]

nolawn said:

I think you must mean the big rhubarb-type plants in your last photo are Giant Horse-foot. I was meaning the small weeds in 2 of your original 3 photos are plantains.

;D OOps misunderstood you there.

Nolawn did you re place or change about your pics in your original photo site?
They are not showing right now.
But then again that might be proboard making fun of us users again.

I hope to see them later.

It is pouring out here so a photo of my Lychnis ( Campion? ) has to wait until later.

Weeds are beautiful

[nightowl]

Oh Dutchy, I got in such a tangle trying to do photos yesterday that I haven't a clue what I did in the end!!!

Ask poor RF and Spru, they were trying to help me out and finding it very difficult

I'm sure someone said my 2nd and 3rd photos of bluebells came up ok (Spru I think) but maybe my poor confused mind is playing tricks on me.

Yes, some weeds are beautiful I hope this thread keeps going. There should be no shortage of material!! ;D

nl

[Dutchy]

Don't worry Nolawn you should have seen the mess I created as I begun.
To keep things going here is one I took today.
A lovely big thistle that grows to over 1.5 meter.



( I admit I had some fun making it slightly more pink, it is purplish for real )

[Dutchy]

Is this one called Campion?
I would call it a Day Cuckoo Flower ( translation from Dutch)

[nightowl]

Yes that's Red Campion. Gorgeous

When I was a kid we used to call Lady's Smock (pale mauve flower) Cuckoo Flower or Milkmaids

[Dutchy]

What we call Cuckoo flower you cal Ragged Robin I think.

Saw some lovely thistles at Chelsea ( on tele, no chance of getting there )
They looked like relatives of the one I showed earlier.
And there was a garden that had this little leaved creeper in the paving. We cal it bedroom luck. Can't remember the English name but I do know lots of people try to get rid of it.

I predict a revival of weeds ;D