No Herbicides Used Here

I hate to mow my “lawn” because the “weed” flowers are so pretty, even though I’m sure my herbicide, insecticide, pesticide loving neighbors highly disagree. I don’t c*a*r*e how they feel, I really don’t. I’ve paid for this patch of land, what are they gonna do? While they’re mowing their lawns to an inch of its’ life and it turns brown in the heat of the summer, I’m here mowing mine at 3″ and enjoying a green “lawn” all spring/summer/fall.

I took turf in college (so yes, I know *how* to have the perfect lawn) to try to gain an appreciation for lawns (it didn’t work) and ended up learning and appreciating the turf “weeds” the best. I do have some plants in my “lawn” that aren’t typical turf “weeds” must be from previous owners or real tenacious wildflowers.

Daisies are about to burst forth:

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) that I don’t mind at all:

It’s very hairy, but doesn’t sting like nettle:

Closer view of the henbit flower:

Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale). Now I’m really sorry to those that *hate* dandelions, but I *love* dandelions. Really. I do.

And someday I’ll tell you all of the reasons why I do, besides it being a really cool flower.

Tons of common blue violets (Viola papilionacea) are blossoming:

I love violet leaves:

Wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana), mmm, except I never get to eat them because the lawnmower doesn’t ever allow them to mature.

Mmmm, if I could just hold out mowing until they ripen so I could eat these! Or at least the animals could eat them.

Tons of yarrow (Achillea millefolium), mmmm, makes for a soft, nice smelling “lawn” when mowed, and doesn’t mind being cut:

And this little flower, which is all of a 1/4″ across, is making me have to get out my Weeds of the Northeast book, which I had purchased at Cornell Plantations, and then it ended up being one of our turf textbooks. Slender speedwell (Veronica filiformis).

Don’t be sad that this is ending, I have tons of other “weeds” in my “lawn” that I’ll be sharing later! And if you look closely at some of my “weed” photos, you’ll notice there are blades of grass. Hope I didn’t give any lawn affectinados a heart attack with my “lawn.”