Some may say I'm a lazy gardener. In truth, I'm a pacifist. I have trouble pulling weeds. Don't they deserve a chance to grow? In many ways, these so called weeds have my admiration. They grow in harsh conditions, in unexpected places, without any help from me, other than the fact I leave them be. Hey! My weeds are unschooled!!
I noticed two Milkweed plants growing near my garden hose. I decided to allow them to be, and soon I was in awe at how quickly they grew up. A few weeks ago we noticed a Monarch Mom fluttering around! I seized the moment to show my boys and to explain how these butterflies will only lay eggs on Milkweed.
Today purple caught our attention and we noticed the milkweed's flowers were blossoming. We looked closer and noticed bits of leaves have been eaten! We began to look for baby Monarch caterpillars. We found one! DS9 can't believe this tiny little guy will hopefully grow, become a butterfly and then travel all the way to Mexico. This teeny tiny, itsy bitty little guy, on his own may someday be thousands of miles away. Its remarkable isn't it!
I know. I get all geeked up by nature! God rocks!
So my unschooling plants are unschooling us.....
The artist in me can't help but see the analogies. I know how lovely and miraculous my boys will grow, learn and flourish under God's care. Although I do my best to provide an environment for learning, even if I don't provide it all, God will provide them with what they need, much like the itsy bitty Monarch caterpillar.
12 comments:
mine didn't make it :/ u garden like me :)
Carly and I were just talking about the weeds today!! She is suppose to go pull the weeds in the front..... they are not cool milkweed, they are thorn covered ugly weeds that I don't know they name of!!
Thistles?
EYORES Dinner?
I was going to suggest you move the milkweed into an area of your yard that you could turn into a butterfly garden. :) I am hoping our local refuge will have another butterfly walk this summer since we really enjoyed it last year. :)
That's a great idea! I will save milkweed seeds and plant them in a butterfly garden! Sometimes I feel like putting up a sign, "Unschooling going on. This patch of what looks like weeds is really a science observation experiment."
Once a neighbor questioned why my son was digging up the yard. I told him he just wanted to dig and see what he'd find in the ground. Some things you just have to try for yourself you know?
Caterpillars are so neat to watch everyday. You get to see how they change day by day. We get black swallowtail cats on my parsley. This year they didn't make it. Although 2 days ago I saw a butterfly laying more eggs so maybe I'll get to see some after all. Have fun watching them. They grow so fast. Have a great day!
Dawn, I got some milkweed seeds last summer and was told to plant them in the fall
If they are green, they get to stay. Some even have flowers. Works for me.
Lots of gardeners enjoy weeds.........Whether or not it's considered a weed depends on where it's located in your yard. That's what I heard a Master Gardener say a few months ago. :)
I like dandelions lol. I left my yard longer then my neighbors in the early spring JUST to keep my violets in bloom and thus... helping the BUMBLEBEE!
Doh
We left a patch of grass to grow and SPROUT and the boys were like wow that is what it looks like?
In ny poppys were a flower in ca they are a weed.
I let morning glories take over my garden every year, then have to search to find the tomatoes under them. lol But they're SO pretty!
Isn't nature wonderful!! I have a great monarch butterfly website http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/
You can track them as they migrate to mexico and than back to us in the spring again.
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