Sunday, June 13, 2010

Weeds or Flowers? It's a Matter of Perception

When I was a child helping my grandfather pull weeds in the garden I asked him, "Papa, how can you tell the difference between a plant and a weed?"   His response to me, "If you nurture it, fertilize it, water it, and it dies - it's a plant.  If you pull it out, and it grows back - it's a weed."

That memory still makes me smile, but I don't seem to be any better these days at recognizing the differences between many weeds and plants.  Take for instance, Queen Anne's Lace, I love it!  And right now it is abundantly growing all up and down the Texas roadsides. 

We gathered big buckets of it to use in the Shoppe and booth during this past show!  It looked so pretty in the displays and tablescapes!  We had more people comment about the flowers, many were surprised to discover that it was growing wild everywhere!

It's been said that Queen Anne's Lace is actually a weed, not a flower.  The same for Daisies, another favorite of mine.  Whatever the correct classification, it doesn't matter to me, I will forever refer to them as wildflowers.  Aren't they just far too lovely to be called weeds? 

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into.  ~Henry Ward Beecher

28 comments:

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

I agree with you sometimes the weeds/wildflowers are the prettiest flowers around!

Anonymous said...

I love your grandfather's saying! I'd rather have a gathering of wildflowers anyday ~ the ones that grow wildly and freely are the prettiest ones.
Lovely table setting!

Sarah

Sweet Old Vintage said...

I absolutely love queen anns lace... or wild carrots... and if I am having a special occasion during the blooming period I will pick it and place it in canning jars filled with water and place it everywhere for a touch of beauty.....

Charlene said...

I have heard about you but, never had a chance to visit. Where exactly are you located in Canton? And do you only do Canton & sales or do you have a shop open all the time in Canton? Would love to see you & the shop. Charlene

Sueann said...

I too love Queen Anne's lace!! They are delicately elegant!!
Beautiful
Hugs
SueAnn

the old white house said...

Hi Laurie Anna! I picked Queens Annes lace for our wedding bouquets, it is so pretty. Last year while on a walk I told my 7 year old Max about it and ever since then when he saw it he picked some for me. I'm hoping for the same this year! Theresa

Brynwood Needleworks said...

I adore the fields in Wisconsin filled with Queen Anne's Lace and chicory. I really miss that view. xoxo Donna

Deborah@Green Willow Pond said...

I let milkweed grow in my flowerbeds, partly because I love the flowers on them, and partly because they are the only food source for the monarch butterfly larva. Monarchs have become endangered in recent years, so I give the babies a place to call home:)

LaurieAnna's Vintage Home said...

Green Willow Pond, I love that you plant the milkweed for the butterflies, how sweet and what a pay off! To be surrounded by butterflies!

Theresa, that story about Max picking these for you.....just off the charts sweet! I love that!

Elsie said...

Your Grandfather was soooo right.
I love his saying!! I have some
wildflowers growing in my flower
beds. They are just as pretty as
the other flowers. ":O)

Anonymous said...

I so agree with you! I love "wild flowers" too! In fact on today's walk with my girl I pulled a couple (root and all)of a lovely blue flower to transplant in my garden, lol. I love them!

clustres said...

I love what your grandfather said! I agree too with:if it's pretty, it's pretty, no matter what it is!

Preppy Mama said...

I totally agree with you. I love Queen Anne's Lace, it reminds me of my grandparent's house, I used to pick tons of it during those long Summers!

rachel blazer said...

that quote from your grandfather is priceless- and true! : )
our neighbor at our first home as a married couple told us , "if you want it, it's not a weed. if you don't want it, it's a weed." that has been my standard ever since!

Donna (Timeless Settings) said...

I love your grandfather's saying. That's the way it feels sometimes!

Donna

Faded Charm said...

Two of my favorite "weeds" as well. I just love how a big bucket of Queen's Anne Lace can add so much charm to any setting.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Kathleen

Unknown said...

I wish I had queen anns lace in my garden! And the table setting is once again breathtaking! You amaze me. If you ever get one extra minute, check out my new blog, I have used many items from your shop in my decorating and have some pics. Thanks for always inspiring me.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree...they are beautiful "flowers", and your display is so lovely!

~ Jo :)

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree...they are beautiful "flowers", and your display is so lovely!

~ Jo :)

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

I wish some of those "weeds" would take up residence in my garden...

Daphne Nicole & Lynda Cade said...

Laurie, love the Queen Anne's lace, it's so pretty!!! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Daphne

Ann Flowers said...

Wow...these weed flower looks awesome. No matter they are weed but they are beautiful. Keep on posting.

Alaina said...

I am with you on the wildflowers. We have a weed that grows everywhere around here and it is pretty to me. I like to cut it and when it is dry it looks sort of like dried lavender. To each thei own.

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Preemie Donna said...

This was one of the first flowers my niece Graycie learned how to say. It was so cute she would say it everytime she saw it.. Got to love what the Nana's teach them.. :)

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet words! I am thrilled that you becane a follower! I always love visiting your site and seeing you at the shop in Canton! You are such a sweetheart and are always so kind to my daughter and myself! We adore your shop and always find the best lovelies there!

Have a wonderful evening!
Cathy

Junkie Junkeldorf said...

Funny, I had two weeds-or-flowers posts. I say if it looks like a flower and it acts like a flower, it's a flower.

seedlady said...

Weeds like this are usually non-native, invasive species which crowd out the natives that much wildlife depends on for seed or other parts. So it's not just a matter of being pretty...but of being impractical for sustining other forms of wildlife.

And they aren't nearly so pretty when they take over your lawn...