Not all weeds are ugly uncontrollable brutes. Yes, they can be
difficult and intimidating, but by learning how to grow weeds in
unexpected ways you will become a better gardener with a more
interesting garden. This book profiles over 50 weeds and shows you
surprising ways to grow them, no matter what your garden type: from
borders to boxes, sunny to shady, poor soil to rich, tropical to
formal, Japanese-style to prairies. With interviews, tips and
advice from celebrated gardeners, learn how to let weeds flourish
without taking control. Wild about Weeds is the must-have guide for
modern gardeners that explains how to tame and nurture the most
challenging of plants.
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Review This Product
I have new appreciation for my weeds
Sun, 27 Oct 2019 | Review
by: Kelly H.
“For the purpose of this book, I have defined a garden weed as ‘a plant that reproduces seemingly uncontrollably’.” - Wild about Weeds by Jack Wallington
I loved this definition and swiftly warmed to Jack Wallington’s theme in Wild about Weeds! He goes on to speak of plants which, in South Africa, would be considered prized, sold in nurseries and shared amongst friends. I chuckled at the idea of them being considered a weed in a far more moist country like England. Some Weeds transcend continents and climate and enough of the principles of the books apply globally.
Weeds are unbelievably resilient, they have survival tactics that other plants should envy! This book drew my attention to their positive qualities. It should be admitted now that I’m not the weed-remover. Mum and Charles wrestle and remove those at which I point and exclaim “that shouldn’t be there” so I’m not sure they’ll appreciate my newfound admiration for these previously judged plants!
“A plant is a plant and if you like it, you should grow it no matter what anyone else thinks or what label it’s been given. Labels are annoying. They’re often someone else’s opinion telling us what we should think. “Weed” being a good example – it is merely a broad and negative term associated with any plant that pops up where we weren’t expecting it. The label is a lie.” - Wild about Weeds by Jack Wallington
Certain “Weeds” I gasped to hear called such, my beautiful foxgloves…never…my gorgeous flowing ivy…daisies…violas…oh no! And I reflected on this, I realised that’s the point of Jack’s book, to love those plants that you find attractive whether they grow voraciously or not! He makes several recommendations in the book to help limit the growth if the plant begins to escape its bounds. He shares wisdom on planning your layout to make the best of each plant. He inspires and encourages the gardener to observe, admire and shape one’s garden to one’s own tastes and I throughly enjoyed it from cover to cover.
I loved the interviews with key landscapers and garden aficionados included in the book, particularly the one on plant communities. I think this picture of plant communities is gorgeous “They’re social networks, densely layered, incredibly diverse and sophisticated in their interactions…Plants collaborate, compete and communicate with one’s another.”
Overall the book is a call to a new way of gardening, more in tune with the environment, more respectful of our resources and more accepting of all plants. If you love learning more about plants and are keen to explore new gardening methods, this is one for you! It’s five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale and highly recommended.
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