Let the Garden do the Work for You

Late afternoon, I am standing in our garden, awed by the beautiful light of the setting sun backlighting the scene. The path in this photograph leads into the backgarden.

The entrance to the path is flanked by two tall Knapweed plants (Common knapweed, Centaurea nigra), one on each side. It is a beautiful plant and the insects love it.

I did not put the Knapweed there. They are wildflowers - in some people’s perception weeds. Their seeds arrived perhaps on the wind, liked what they saw and sowed themselves in perfect spots. Just because the gardener did not plant them there does not mean that they do not belong in this spot.

It is such a good example of what beauty can be achieved when you go gentle on your weeding and allow wildflowers to live. All you have to do is less and the garden will do (some of) the work for you.

A closer look at a Common knapweed plant.