Rebel plants
SELF-SEEDING FLOWERS WILL ROMP
ALL OVER YOUR GARDEN IF YOU LET
THEM – AND WHY NOT, WHEN THEYBRING COLOUR AND AN INFORMAL
FEEL? JUST DON’T CALL THEM WEEDSWords: JACK WALLINGTONPHOTOGRAPHY: BRITT WILLOUGHBY DYER; CLAIRE TAKACS/GAP PHOTOSW
eeds are those
unplanned plants
that pop up to
thwart our careful,
considered design
efforts. They add
colour we didn’t want, grow where we
wanted a bit of breathing space, give shape
that throws off our intended balance. It’s
not the weed’s fault we hatched a plan
without it, but those plants are breaking
our rules, those little rebels. And while they
may well be rebelling against our tyrannyover the garden, perhaps we should
occasionally listen to what these rebels
have to say. Their agenda doesn’t always
fit ours; sometimes it can be better.
Even if we like the look of a plant, if it
persists and spreads easily to the point
it’s difficult to control, we probably get
frustrated with it and it becomes a weed.
Forget-me-not, for example, seeds itself
around thickly, yet we might let it off the
weedy hook thanks to its beautiful blue
f lowers. Ultimately, only you can decide if a
plant is a weed in your eyes. Don’t let otherLetting self seeders
like poppies and
forget-me-nots
thrive can change
your gardening
perspectiveGARDENSRebel plants
SELF-SEEDING FLOWERS WILL ROMP
ALL OVER YOUR GARDEN IF YOU LET
THEM – AND WHY NOT, WHEN THEYBRING COLOUR ANDAN INFORMAL
FEEL? JUST DON’T CALL THEM WEEDSWords:JACKWALLINGTONPHOTOGRAPHY: BRITT WILLOUGHBY DYER; CLAIRE TAKACS/GAP PHOTOSW
eeds are those
unplanned plants
that pop up to
thwart our careful,
considered design
efforts. They add
colour we didn’t want, grow where we
wanted a bit of breathing space, give shape
that throws off our intended balance. It’s
not the weed’s fault we hatched a plan
without it, but those plants are breaking
our rules, those little rebels. And while they
may well be rebelling against our tyrannyover the garden, perhaps we should
occasionally listen to what these rebels
have to say. Their agenda doesn’t always
fit ours; sometimes it can be better.
Even if we like the look of a plant, if it
persists and spreads easily to the point
it’s difficult to control, we probably get
frustrated with it and it becomes a weed.
Forget-me-not, for example, seeds itself
around thickly, yet we might let it off the
weedy hook thanks to its beautiful blue
f lowers. Ultimately, only you can decide if a
plant is a weed in your eyes. Don’t let otherLetting self seeders
like poppies and
forget-me-nots
thrive can change
your gardening
perspectiveGARDENS