Could be useful...

   In my old age, I am finding that a lot of times my conversations include the phrase "this could be useful some day".  I am usually rambling off some tidbit of how to make fluffy biscuits or how to cane a chair seat but I also find that I use it a lot when I am in the garden.  Sharing the knowledge of plants is something that I am passing down from Pop and from Granddad.  Both gentlemen were brilliant in their own rights and they tried to instill in me a good bit of the commonsense they had.  Some stuck.  Some flew by the head and was lost in space never to be retrieved.  Still, the wee bit that I did retain surely does come in useful...most days.

  While I scurried out to check the ripeness of the tomatoes, I noticed that dollarweed was taking over a couple of the flower gardens since I have been virtually a no-show in the Small Gardens.  The stuff was doing rather well and was even blooming.  Oh, well.  Years ago, I had given into the fact that my gardens would never be the pristine things of Pop or Grandad.  Dollarweed...also known as pennywort...is probably going to be a permanent resident in the gardens so it may as well reap the benefits of the fertilizer, water and mulch.  

  As I stopped to admire the healthy plants, I had to smile when I realized just how many folks have no clue about this plant.  Most only look for ways to eliminate it from their lovely lawns.  They have little idea that the lowly weed could perhaps save their lives if ever need be.  (That is if it is not contaminated by the overuse of chemicals).  Pennywort is edible.  In fact, in some places it is used almost daily in meals.  Yep, that round leaf thingy is indeed tasty but it also has great potential in healing many ailments.  In view of the fine mess this country is in right now, perhaps people should be studying up on what is around them...which plants are edible...which can be used as medicine...which you should avoid at all costs.  A bit of knowledge could, indeed, be useful some day....most days.