Weeds A well known gardener says a weed can be good, It can be pretty and it’s a bit misunderstood. It gets a label, and a cross that is black, And that’s the end, no one wants it back. He adds that ANY plant that grows where you don’t want it to be, Should be considered a weed, it’s unwanted, you see. But if you look close at the labelled weeds that we hate, They are really exquisite, the label should be for debate. Take the daisy, loved by children world wide. Picked so carefully and shown off with pride. Its pretty white petals, with delicate pink ends And a lovely yellow centre, it’s an adorable blend. Made into caterpillars and daisy chains galore Making yourself, a skill that can’t be ignored. Then there’s the butter cup, a bowl of petals that shine so bright, And the cluster of stamens packed in so tight. Held up to the chin, if the reflection shows, It’s a sign you like butter, so the saying goes. But the dreaded dandelion has to be one of the best, Though it’s thought of by people as a proper pest. Just start with the colour, how special is this, Its the brightest yellow that you just can’t miss. It has so many petals, the centre compact, And the rest radiating out to make bewitching impact. And once these lovely flowers have seen there best, They make the seed head, the part the people really detest. But this is so pretty, a small white puff ball Just look a little closer, you will be enthralled Each individual seed, like a firework in the sky And as you blow it, the fluffy feathers fly high. Is it one o’clock, two , three or four The fairy’s use it to tell time, so says folklore. So next time your out walking, just look all around. These amazing flowers of weeds are there to be found. They are not so bad, we need to look again, And not shy away because weed is it’s name. Sharon P.S. The well known gardener is Alan Titchmarsh. 24
The Dever - April 2021
