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Post by andy on Mar 16, 2007 19:37:35 GMT
I know the definition of a weed is "any plant growing where it is not wanted" but just having an exchange of posts with Rosefriend got me thinking about what "weeds" are attractive.
Personally, i love the flowers of willow herb and herb Robert...although both could be classed as wild flowers. Linaria or toad flax are gorgeous flowers and who could deny that the dandelion has a certain charm.
Any faves ?
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Post by MamIDdau on Mar 16, 2007 20:11:03 GMT
I quite like daisies.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2007 18:35:25 GMT
I like daisies too.........as long as they're in other people's lawns ;D
FA x
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 18, 2007 18:39:59 GMT
A neighbour of ours plants 2 or three packets of daisy seeds each year.
He adores them . I didn't even know that you could buy seeds. Last year I went and had a look - it was gorgeous - looked fantastic - just like a white carpet.
However just like FA I am pleased that he is across the road and it isn't my garden.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 18, 2007 18:48:57 GMT
I like most things...I think that buttercups, daisies, cowslips and clover look lovely in my lawn <lazygardenersmiley>. Not so keen on nettles, thistles (ouch) and DANDELIONS...whilst the flowers are pretty and the seed heads interesting...don't want them in my garden...
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Post by dirtyboots on Mar 18, 2007 19:02:50 GMT
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Post by Plocket on Mar 18, 2007 19:05:11 GMT
I like cow parsley, scabious and scarlet pimpernell in particular. Daisies are ok in other people's lawns but I will tolerate the odd one or two here. I'm growing ragged robin this year ;D
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 18, 2007 19:05:54 GMT
Mother Nature got there first didn't she ;D
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Post by Plocket on Mar 18, 2007 19:09:05 GMT
Noooooo! I bought seeds of them!!!
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 18, 2007 19:11:48 GMT
Oh DB - Andy has a garden full if you ever want anymore and I can certainly give you a few as well. Mind you they do look nice in the photo don't they. RF |
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Post by dirtyboots on Mar 18, 2007 19:40:57 GMT
Thanks for the offer RF ;D but I think those that we have already will be more that enough in a year or too!
DB
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Post by roxann57 on Mar 18, 2007 21:29:19 GMT
I've got Campion growing in amongst my borders, it needs watching though as it self seeds itself all over the place. The hedgerows look wonderful when the Campion and Bluebells are out together  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Mar 19, 2007 7:13:09 GMT
I LOVE wild plants! I am astonished that so many people make such a distinction between "garden" plants and "wild" plants and in addition to the adage "a weed is any plant growing where it is not wanted", I wish people would LOOK at many of the plants they pull up without a thought. There are so many beautiful wild plants. As well as the obvious ones like OxEye Daisy, Harebell, Poppy, Corn Marigold, Meadow Cranesbill, Primrose etc etc, some of the er, "weedier" ones are amazing if you take the time to look with new eyes. Teasels, Bladder Campion, Sorrell, Wild Carrot, Spurge amomgst many others, are wonderfully constructed and have"architectural" qualities to equal many designer plants.
I love to see a lawn with daisies, dandelions, Self Heal and Clover etc growing in it - get down in amongst it and watch the wild life buzzing in there! It's beautiful ;D
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 19, 2007 8:45:07 GMT
I have a spicejar-full of seed saved from some particularly nice purple poppies (clearly labelled poppy seeds - but not for food) that I just keep forgetting to cast around the place - has anyone any idea how long they stay viable for, and their 'cycle' - ie if I put them in places around the margins now, when will they flower?
OM.
(ok, ok, 'sooner than if you keep them in the jar') LOL...
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Post by sweetleaf on Mar 19, 2007 9:22:09 GMT
They are viable pretty much forever, OM, think of the Somme and you are close to the mark!........ and they should flower this year, if Im right and they are annuals. |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 19, 2007 14:26:42 GMT
thanks sweetleaf - I'd forgotten the 'Flanders Fields' connection and the potential implied - and irrationally encouraged by the thought of them appearing this year, will get out there scattering asap...
OM.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2007 16:56:05 GMT
I think what you like depends on what your bothered with.
I'm always at war with Willow Bay Herb (Fireweed), Wild Poppy, Clover (white and pink), Thistle and Fumitory. All are very pretty but because they become a nuisance we tend to weed them out.
Oh and one that wasn't a weed until i put some seed down is Evening Primrose and Viola's and now i can't get rid of them...they are now on the hit list. I've also got a yellow plant that i bought and it seeds everywhere and i'm still fighting it...name escapes me at the mo.
Other one which my FIL had same prob with was Calendula....he just couldn't get rid of it.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 19, 2007 17:42:24 GMT
I've got some violas that have seeded everywhere...in the GH, in the lawn and between the paving slabs...I think that they look wonderful but OH is forever pulling them out because they weren't 'put' there..  |
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Post by Jonah on Mar 20, 2007 22:52:44 GMT
I can't wait for my teasels this year, they are in their second year so I should get the lovely spikes. Nigella and Escholzia [sp?] are weeds for me, but they are allowed to stay because I think they are pretty. However every year I thin out the orange poppies so that I just have the cream and pink that came in the mix. I'm not so keen on the morning glory [sorry - bindweed as far as I'm concerned!!!  ] and Linaria that just want to smother my borders. Briza grass is getting a bit carried away, but looks lovely in the summer mingling with the perennials. Achillia is often seen as a weed, isn't it? well, I like that too! I have about 3 varieties, but not the yellow. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2007 14:33:00 GMT
I didn't realise herb Robert was considered a weed  ... a friend gave me a couple of plants when we started out, which are now several more plants - not only does it have beautiful flowers, but the reddish leaf colouring is lovely ... cheers ... |
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Post by Alicat on Mar 22, 2007 18:44:08 GMT
Hi Andy Sorry but you can keep your Dandelions and Plantains, but daisies I would love to have in my garden. (Takes me back to my childhood of making Daisy chains) I do however have a weed/plant in my garden that I do not know what it is.  It grows in my front garden nearly all year round. If I don’t keep it under control it will self seed everywhere. It also doesn’t mind where it grows and will even grow under my front window which at this time of year is always in shade. In the summer it has yellow flowers and is about 8 inches tall. Any idea’s please. Cheers Alicat. |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 22, 2007 18:47:55 GMT
Argggggh it's on the tip of my tongue
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 22, 2007 18:53:35 GMT
and mine, but it is pink in my garden.........
RF
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Post by paul r82 on Mar 22, 2007 19:06:56 GMT
Iy looks like a Corydalis, but can't remember which one of the top of my head.
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 22, 2007 19:07:00 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 22, 2007 19:11:03 GMT
Hi Alicat
Well yours is corydalis lutea, - only trouble is I don't know which variety mine is.
RF
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Post by Alicat on Mar 22, 2007 19:33:22 GMT
Cheers all Rosefriend it is definatly Coridalis Lutea I have just googled and it fits the description Perfectly. Thanks again all. Btw. if anyone would like some I have loads that I dug up from the front. - It is a great ground cover plant for a shady area. Alicat. x
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Post by Alicat on Mar 27, 2007 16:11:59 GMT
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] and Linaria that just want to smother my borders. Briza grass is getting a bit carried away, but looks lovely in the summer mingling with the perennials.
... a friend gave me a couple of plants when we started out, which are now several more plants - not only does it have beautiful flowers, but the reddish leaf colouring is lovely ... cheers ...
