Weeds

Don't you think flowers are overappreciated?

I’ve always thought that flowers were pretentious things. Their colors are bright and vulgar, as if they are begging for attention. I suppose that’s why people always plant them in their gardens. However, I didn’t comprehend as to why they had to pull out the weeds. My mother told me they choked the flowers, giving no room to grow, but I couldn’t help but understand the unappreciated weeds. They are unnoticed and reviled, hated for their presence in nature. Maybe they are jealous of the audacious flowers that always receive the consideration they desire. The dandelions I made a wish on and then blew apart were cruelly yanked from their stations in the ground in order to make room for the plants. Then, they were thrown into a black garbage bag without a second thought. I could almost see the triumphant smiles on the irises’ petals. They mocked the fallen weeds that became brown and dry as they grew tall and healthy under the sun’s nurturing gaze.

After seeing the abuse of the weeds, I decided to grow my own garden. I sectored off an area in my backyard, and watched as the crabgrass and dandelions grew in the absence of cumbersome flowers. I noticed tiny, violet flowers with only three petals peak up from the crabgrass. Their color was neutral and the petals were simple, and yet, they were just as beautiful as any other flower I had seen before. The beauty of weeds lies in their simplicity, I told my mother when she asked why I had created such an arid garden. They have no thorns, no layers, and no garish colors. They are just as they are, pure and simple.

Author's Note

Just a simple story I whipped up to present orally. I think the writing style is very elementary, so I would appreciate critique.

Reviews

[Elana Juli Royson]

Did you really section a piece of your backyard? This story makes geeks, or in this case, weeds, feel appreciated. I LOVE IT!

[em]

think this has a really good concept and could even be turned into a metaphor for something bigger. good luck

[Daniel Thomas Andrew Da..]

This story struck a chord with me personally, and you raised some points I myself had often considered. Why do weeds have such a bad name when they often look pretty as well? I once talked with my brother in law, David, who owns a farm, on this very subject. The explanation was this: weeds are called weeds and have derogatory connotations because, unlike flowers and other plants, they tend to, once they get established in an area, take over the entire area and kill off all competitors. They are pervasive, aggressive and dominant plants, committed to ruling the planet with their species. Many of them look seductively beautiful - yet this is almost like a femme fatale - they will kill you in the end. That is essentially why weeds have the reputation they have, rather than the softer and more gentle flowers. Of course, flowers may be quite full of pride at their own soft beauty, often like the prettier amongst mankind can look down on others, yet I have to admit I would still prefer a garden full of beautiful flowers rather than the obnoxious weeds who are determined to kill off all rivals. Really sorry to disagree with you. But the sentiment in your story was beautiful nonetheless, and I liked it a lot. Daniel