“…Brown bee orchis, and Peals of Bells;
Clover, burnet, and thyme she smells;
Like Oberon’s meadows her garden is
Drowsy from dawn to dusk with bees.
Weeps she never, but sometimes sighs,
And peeps at her garden with bright brown eyes;
And all she has is all she needs —
A poor Old Widow in her weeds.”

Peacock Pie

Walter de la Mare (1873 – 1956)

Weeds or flowers? Does it matter if they brighten the garden, give nectar to the bees and seeds for the voles, mice and finches? They ask for nothing, provide simple beauty and so many are medicinal herbs. Sweet Cicely has become a little rampant but the Muscari never seems to self seed  even though I try to scatter it around – yet my mum had acres of it! Gradually, the cowslip is increasing, all from one small plant that grew in the path and was strimmed every year ’til rescued. Honesty is so welcome in early spring, filling the air with its fragrance, in autumn the papery, silver seed cases make attractive decorations. The Goldfinches are busy eating the dandelion seeds just as the rough Hawksbit and Cat’s ear begin to flower in the “lawn”…

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