They say the garden teaches, but sometimes it throws a tantrum first. This season, we let parts of our garden go a little… feral. And by “a little,” I mean American nightshade showed up with pigweed as its wingman and dayflowers spread like gossip in a small town.
You know what? I learned more from the chaos than I ever did from tidy rows and Pinterest-perfect plans.
1. The Weeds Know Things
Pigweed doesn’t just show up for no reason. It thrives in disturbed soil and nutrient-rich spaces, kind of like that friend who only crashes on your couch when the fridge is full. Instead of instantly ripping it out, I took a beat and asked, Why here? Why now? Turns out, the weeds were telling me about soil compaction, where I’d overwatered, and where the mulch had broken down too thin.
2. Beauty is Not Always Organized
Dayflowers (those delicate, electric blue blossoms) showed up uninvited but gave the pollinators a reason to party. It reminded me that nature doesn’t care about aesthetics the same way we do, she cares about balance, function, and abundance. My messy spots were buzzing while my “well-managed” beds sat awkwardly quiet.
3. Every Plant Has a Story
American nightshade was the drama queen of the garden. Toxic? A little. Medicinal? Also yes. Historically used in folk remedies, and also avoided like the plague in modern gardening circles. It made me realize how much nuance we miss when we slap a “good” or “bad” label on a plant (or a person, for that matter). Every weed has a lineage, and maybe even a use, if you’re curious enough to look.
4. Nature Will Always Reclaim What You Ignore
Letting things go wild wasn’t laziness, it was a life lesson. You don’t get to control everything forever. Soil wants to be covered. Seeds will sprout. Life wants to grow. If you don’t guide it, it will guide you.
And sometimes, that’s the better route anyway.
A wild garden isn’t a failed one, it’s an honest one. And if you look closely, you’ll find lessons poking through the pigweed, joy buzzing on the dayflowers, and wisdom rooted even in the nightshade!
Yard 2 Yield! 