| I can’t say what it is about weeds that l have always loved – although they are loosely defined a kind of hobby of mine? Perhaps it is quite simply because they are misunderstood like some animal species. Whatever your opinion or view is on weeds, they are everywhere, and they are here to stay. Most weeds are harmless, not all. Of course, some are and can be deadly. The fact is that people don’t like weeds because they don’t belong where they usually appear or are out of place. Many a time, gardeners especially don’t want them because weeds tend to grow quicker and easier than many ornamental flowers. Weeds have a way of surviving. They are ONLY considered weeds on the domestic level because, let’s be honest, when we are out walking in the countryside, how many people are bothered by the presence of weeds then? There are advantages and disadvantages to having weeds in your gardens and yards. They do have a lot of benefits that many people tend to ignore, and this series will highlight that. |
| The Beauty of Weeds Companion Plantings Shelter Encouraging wildlife Fertilising and enriching the soils Providing and active Mulch/Soil protection Attracting pollinators and good insects Repelling pests Food source for animals and humans Serves as decoy crops Great for wildlifing the garden Soil conditioning |
| Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum |
| Images my own |
| Alexanders is the common name for Smyrnium olusatrum, and it is an edible plant that grows abundantly or invasively around these parts of coastal Kent. It is best seen between April to June. The plant, also known as horse parsley, can be eaten. It is known as Alexanders and also Black Lovage, Horse Parsley, and Wild Celery. It is a tall biennial plant that towers above other plants it companions with and measures between three to five-foot. It is a very leggy or stemmy shiny green plant with light yellowish green flower clusters that smell like celery. It is sometimes confused with Keck or Cow Parsley. Foragers favour this ancient food as they use it in raw and cooked form, and it can be added to soups and broths. The Latin Smyrnium olusatrum means parsley of Alexander. Bees and other pollinators love it. |
| I hope you enjoyed A is for Alexanders and I’ll see you again soon. The Autistic Composter |
Earthly Comforts 
I say if it’s pretty and/or green then it’s just fine…
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
It’s a beautiful plant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a lovely plant for sure Sadje 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting! Thank you for sharing, Rory. Wild plants provided many a delicious meal for me and my children as they were growing up. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think foraging is on the up these days as more and more people discover the benefits 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The problem nowadays is that one never knows what they may have been sprayed with. I would hesitate to forage in an area I didn’t know for sure was safe. For instance, roadsides in the states are not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Betty, well roadsides anywhere are not safe areas to forage . Even here, l wouldn’t gather them. I used to keep hundreds of rabbits and l used to forage for them, but l always collected and picked off the beaten track.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm well I do think I have some weeds around? It’s been too hot to be outside
Today is first drop in temp … 106 yesterday… 89 today 🤨… but oh thank god! Ahhh
My weeds are not like yours… mine are mean hardy mean looking things that do prick you with things 😳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha yes you are not alone we have the prickly types here also Trisha 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person