What’s a weed? – by Rev. Heather McCarrel

Once I read that the best way to keep your lawn weed free was by keeping it thick with grass; by seeding regularly it keeps the lawn too thick for weeds to land, root and take over.

Photo by Steven Cordes/Unsplash

So, I seeded my lawn yesterday.  There was no fertilizer or hours spent replenishing the soil before seeding. I simply walked the length and width of my yard with a hand held seeder releasing the seeds as evenly as I could. Once the seeds were down I then stomped around my yard pressing the seeds into the soil so they would stay put.  As I did so, several neighbours drove by, honked their horns and waved, presumably mumbling, “What is she up to now?”

Thing is, I actually like weeds!  To me there is nothing more beautiful than a lawn taken over by dandelions and I have a rule, if it is green it can grow on my lawn.  However, my neighbours feel differently.

One summer a neighbour, who has an obvious green thumb, was discovered standing in the middle of my front lawn remorsefully looking around. I watched from my front window knowing it could not be good news.  Sure enough, a plant by the name “Creeping Charlie” had taken root in my lawn and was now creeping over to his lawn.  I was handed a tub and instructed upon its use so to end Charlie’s travels.

I handed it back courageously and said, “Charlie is welcome here!”  Apparently my neighbour isn’t as inclusive!  (I have a hard rule against chemical warfare)

To be fair this neighbour’s yard and flower beds are so impressive his house has been on the “Tour of Gardens” and he spends many a summer evening giving ‘wanna be’ gardeners lessons.   My yard is “the bain of his existence” but, I would like to offer a re-framing.  Anyone can grow beautiful flowers in perfect conditions.  My yard is like the ultimate challenge; it proves what a pro he really is.  He should be thanking me!

He is a good and kind neighbour and, as Jesus so clearly instructed, the most important commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Matthew 13:29-31)

So, for my neighbour’s sake, I seeded my lawn yesterday.  As I marched up and down my front lawn I did so with a bit more gusto than required with hopes that all would notice my efforts at keeping Charlie and the dandelions out!