Weeds

Another beautiful day in the northwest.  Today I was going to go out and pull up the grass and weeds in the garden.  I have noticed small spikes of green stuff coming up all over the place.  So I get on my gardening clothes, and out I go.  I get out there and realize that my lack of interest in yard work in the past has now got me handicapped. I have no idea what is a weed and what may be a tiny sprout of food.  I know where I planted seeds, so I know where not to pull up grass and weeds....I just have to wait until something I can be sure is food surfaces, then I can get rid of the stuff that is not.

So I begin pulling up the grass that is springing up all over.  Well....I pull on a grass blade and it snaps off.  I know enough to know that those pesky roots are down there somewhere and I better get those if I don't want to be back out here next week pulling up the same grass.  Have you ever SEEN the roots to those tiny pieces of grass that are no wider than a piece of string and maybe an inch high?  They have 10 foot long roots!!!  I am winding my way around the garden area, digging 2 in deep burrows, following one root.  Geez.   I rethink this plan really quickly, and here is what I come up with:

From my science classes in high school, I remember the word symbiosis.  The definition is "close and often long-term interactions between different biological species".  OK, this is it.  This is how it is meant to be in the world of nature.  Then I read further:  "this relationship can be mutualist,  commensal or parasitic in nature".  So here's what I'm thinking.  I have a one in three chance that this relationship is mutualistic.  Those grasses and weeds serve some purpose of protection for this food.  They provide a distraction for the enemies of my food.  I think I will be done with this futile exercise in weeding.  That is my story and I am sticking to it.  (However, I am reserving the right to change my mind if necessary).  I could be totally wrong about this whole symbiotic thing.

I feel much better now that I can go sit down and have a cup of coffee, and rest easy that those weeds are out there protecting my food.  I am going to relax and enjoy the sun.

The garbage bowl on the kitchen counter is near full.  I can no longer postpone my research on composting.  Until next time...

Karen