ARE THEY WEEDS

Weeds are plants which grow where they're not wanted. If this is a true definition, the six feet tall mullein in the midst of my garden is not really a weed. It's the tallest plant in this part of the garden, it adds definition. I think it looks exotic not weedy and is an enhancement. then there's the Queen Anne's Lace, so delicate, so beautiful. How could I consider it a weed! I have placed cut stems of Queen Anne's Lace in slightly diluted food coloring and watched the flowers turn colors. What an interesting little project to share with your children or grandchildren! Goldenrod grows along the roadside but I like using it as a nice backdrop for my containers. I introduced Joe Pye Weed, another roadsider, into my garden two years ago and I love it. Last year I posted about Evening Primrose, a "weed" and a thug. But watching its lovely yellow flowers open in the evening is as thrilling as watching 4th of July fireworks. These are just a few of the "weeds" that reside in my garden. They require constant monitoring but the extra work is worth it.

EVENING PRIMROSE

If you have never watched an evening primrose flower unfurl, you have missed a real treat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiODdt8l108. I am willing to bet no matter what your age, you will get a "jaw-dropping" thrill from watching this phenomenon in person.

The Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis, is mainly pollinated by the sphinx moth. It's a night bloomer that emits a delicate perfume to attract the moth. The pale yellow flower produced measures about two inches across. It has four petals, prominent stamens , cross shaped stigma, and a long green calyx. The flowers remain open from evening to early morning. The Evening Primrose plant itself is rather ugly, tall and weedy. To keep from pulling this "weed" out of my garden of cultivated plants, I have to keep reminding myself of its impending amazing show.