Flower or Weed?

The only difference between a flower and a weed is ...judgment. ~ Anonymous

Lessons From A Dandelion
From "GLOW" By Donna Doyon

I recall as a young child bringing bouquets of brilliant yellow flowers to my mother. It didn't matter that the stems felt sticky or that both my parents cursed the presence of these flowers in the lawn. I thought they were beautiful!

And there were so many of them!  We spent hours picking the flowers and then popping the blossoms off with a snap of our fingers. But the supply of dandelions never ran out.  My father or brothers would chop off all the heads with the lawn mower at least once a week, but that didn't stop these hardy wonders.

And for those flowers that escaped the honor of being hand-delivered to my mother or the sharp blades of the lawn mower, there was another level of existence.

The soft, round puffs of a dandelion gone to seed caused endless giggles and squeals of delight as we unwittingly spread this flower across the yard.

As I worked in my garden last week, pulling unwanted weeds out of the space that would become a haven for tomatoes, corn, peas and sunflowers, I again marveled at the flower that some call a weed. And I thought, "If only I had the staying power of a dandelion."

If only I could stretch my roots so deep and straight that something tugging on my stem couldn't separate me completely from the source that feeds me life. If only I could come back to face the world with a bright, sunshiny face after someone has run me over with a lawnmower or worse, purposely attacked me in an attempt to destroy me. If only my foliage was a nutritious source of vitamins that help others grow. If only I could spread love and encouragement as freely and fully as this flower spreads seeds of itself.

The lawns at my parents' homes are now beautiful green blankets. The only patches of color come from well-placed, well-controlled flowerbeds. Chemicals have managed to kill what human persistence couldn't.

I hope you and I can be different. I hope that we can stretch our roots deep enough that the strongest poison can't reach our souls. I hope that we can overcome the poisons of anger, fear, hate, criticism and competitiveness. I hope that we can see flowers in a world that sees weeds.

Meet Donna here:
www.donnadoyon.com/About_Donna.htm


 
Further Thoughts on Dandelions

Dandelions are my favorite flower.

They're bright and cheerful,no matter what.

They thrive where ever they go.

They spring back when people try to cut them down

They do not fear standing out

They smell good

And they're useful-you can even eat them.

 

In a world beset by conformity and fear...

My lawn is full of dandelions!

by Cathy Kane
www.ForesightYourPsychic.com

Comments

[Ajf 4]

All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income. Do not you agree??Post by Ajf 4

[Amy Flynn]

Hi Margaret, could it be a Milkweed? I saw a picture the other day and it has a lot of sticky seeds that have silky fibers that hold them to the plant until they release. I don't know what color the flower normally is. Upon Googling I see that the flower can be either pink or yellow.

Other than that, I have no idea!

[margaret williams]

I live in Missori we have what is discribed by me as a porcupine plant. My son tells me it has a yellow flower. It also has about 1 billion sticky seeds which I discovered when i accidently fell into it's awful embrase wearing a fuzzy full length bath robe.
Any idea as to it's ID?

[Michellle Hesse]

I have always loved 'weeds'! My favorite has been clover. Now that I moved to a new state, I don't know what the local purple 'weed' is called, but it will be welcome when ever we get a house!!