A poem that was a real pleasure to read. Thank you.
I am grateful to have lived to see the day, after living in Iowa for decades, when Iowa's noxious weed law finally was made saner. It took decades, but native thistle species are no longer illegal. And those of us who always let the native thistle species grow, even though it was illegal, don't have to worry at all anymore. (Though for the last twenty years, I decided to no longer cut them down even next to the road, a small act of ecological rebellion. It was ridiculous to cut down native thistles in an Iowa prairie, when prairies is where they belong.)
Meanwhile, the invasive non-native thistle species are still being battled, as is appropriate, since they are a problem in native ecosystems and elsewhere. Learning the differences between Iowa's several species of native thistles and the several species of non-native thistles is not hard. And it enables selective removal. Native tall thistles will always be welcomed on my land. Non-native musk thistles, will get whacked:-).
When I planted my first perennial garden as a young adult, I actually purchased — paid good money — to buy a globe thistle plant! When my mother saw it in my garden, she was shocked that I would buy and plant a weed. I had to remind her that my favorite color is lavender/purple. She still thought I was nuts to plant weeds! Love this poem and the imagery of your personal armor linked to this beautiful plant was powerful.
Lovely imagery!
Thank you so much, Cindy.
A poem that was a real pleasure to read. Thank you.
I am grateful to have lived to see the day, after living in Iowa for decades, when Iowa's noxious weed law finally was made saner. It took decades, but native thistle species are no longer illegal. And those of us who always let the native thistle species grow, even though it was illegal, don't have to worry at all anymore. (Though for the last twenty years, I decided to no longer cut them down even next to the road, a small act of ecological rebellion. It was ridiculous to cut down native thistles in an Iowa prairie, when prairies is where they belong.)
Meanwhile, the invasive non-native thistle species are still being battled, as is appropriate, since they are a problem in native ecosystems and elsewhere. Learning the differences between Iowa's several species of native thistles and the several species of non-native thistles is not hard. And it enables selective removal. Native tall thistles will always be welcomed on my land. Non-native musk thistles, will get whacked:-).
I had missed this one until today. You're my favorite thistle.
Lovely poem.
When I planted my first perennial garden as a young adult, I actually purchased — paid good money — to buy a globe thistle plant! When my mother saw it in my garden, she was shocked that I would buy and plant a weed. I had to remind her that my favorite color is lavender/purple. She still thought I was nuts to plant weeds! Love this poem and the imagery of your personal armor linked to this beautiful plant was powerful.