It’s no secret that I like wildflowers, so they’re welcome in our garden beds — but occasionally, my affections are tested.
Purple Dead Nettle is a pretty flower that runs wild in many gardens. It thrives in moist meadows & dry roadsides alike. It thrives so well that it’s pretty much worn out its welcome in my garden. I weed it out of formal beds and usually remove it from the rockery in favour of the plants I prefer.
Self Heal looks similar & I often get the two mixed up. They both thrive in the same conditions. Both are pretty but a little ‘over-enthusiastic’ for my liking.
But I feel torn.
- Bees & butterflies love the flowers.
- Birds eat the seeds.
- Deer nibble at the leaves without over-grazing.
Just because they self-sow willy-nilly, should I really be so judgmental?
A neighbour welcomes Dead Nettle into her garden. I can appreciate it there, but I’m not the one working to keep them from out-competing her other plants. Lazy me.
Self-heal has established itself in C’s lawn. It seems to hold its own beside the grass, clover, wild violets and English daisies. It survives the mower and the foot traffic. I’m rather pleased that C’s monoculture ‘lawn’ is becoming more of a diversified ‘meadow.’ I’m just fine with enjoying the wildflowers in this space, too.
Perhaps this acceptance balances out my barring them from the garden beds & borders?
Is it enough?
Am I redeemed?
Or should I be more open to having these wildflowers in our garden beds?
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Some other plants that might be considered ‘weeds”:
Garden Variety Life 