No more weeding!

I have decided that I may be finished fighting weeds!  I used to keep the gardens spotless and weed free but it always seemed to be a losing battle.  Now, I think I will just go with the flow and let the weeds coexist with the vegetables.  What can it hurt?  I can see where it will do no harm.  Sure..I will still battle the Cogon Grass but as for a few of the other things, they can stay.   There are two kinds of Oxalis in the garden space and as Michael was digging the rows, I was snatching the tubers!  I like Oxalis!   Most notably in the garden are the purple ones.  The Oxalis corynbosa is quite a pretty little plant with shamrock shaped leaves and cup shaped flowers.  These are some of the first blooms to be seen in the springtime and they always look so happy!   The bulbs that Michael was uprooting were quite large and healthy looking.  I replanted them under the roses.  There at least they can survive until I find a better place for them.  He kept digging and I kept transplanting until the small space that I had allotted for the few roses that survived the winter was overflowing.  Still, I was satisfied that I rescued enough of the weeds..err..plants!  Then this morning, I noticed that the lawn was full of the yellow Oxalis!  The Oxalis-pes-caprae had sprung up over night, it seems!  The grass was dotted with the bright yellow blooms!  This made me smile because I knew that Michael would not be digging here!  I had no idea that there were so many of the plants in the lawn but since I have not cut grass for several weeks, they had a chance to shine out beautifully!  Why are folks so alarmed to find the oxalis growing in their lawns?  They actually make it look much nicer than just that large blanket of green!  Let your lawn be decorated!  Let the colors glow!  Yep..I hate weeding!

Oxalis is actually not a bad plant to have around.  Not only do they have showy, little flowers, the plant has several uses.  Some folks call it Wood Sorrel.  (Think "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" here and how Millie was hunting Wood Sorrel to eat.)  The leaves have a bit of a tangy flavor and the roots can be prepared a lot like potatoes.   I admit that the roots on mine are small but perhaps if the plant was tended with care, they would be larger.  The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.   Also, the leaves when boiled and strained  can be used as a wash to heal mouth ulcers and sore throats.

So you see, there is absolutely no reason to yank these plants from the garden or lawn!  Let them flourish and bloom.  They will not only brighten up the place a bit but afterwards, you can have a new addition to your meals!  Plus..you have a bit of herbal medicine to help keep you well!  There is some concern about the oxalic acid that is contained in the plants (hence the name..oxalis) but it seems that you would have to eat about eleven pounds of the things at one sitting to do much harm.  Still, if this bothers you, just enjoy the flowers and do not eat them!......Or you could get on your hands and knees and pull them out as weeds!  Not me...let them grow!