"Weeds are flowers too.....once you get to know them" wrote the man famous for inventing the loveable Pooh Bear. The man was probably a gardener. Only a gardener will see as much value in a weed as others see in a flower or fruit tree. Some of the most potent healing plants in my first aid are classified by many as weeds. Dandelion, stinging nettle and milk thistle are among my favourites. We would do well to re-classify them Wildflowers!. After all, who decided that a lettuce or carrot was no longer a weed but food?! Then there's Aloe. In my herb loving mind Aloe is as much an incredible healer as a herb is. Aloe is nurtured in our gardens like roses are for the "Garden and Home" manicured landscapes. So much so that my Aloes are my "selfie" contribution, for 
My chickens trashed my new bed of veggie seedlings that were showing their dainty green heads - I decided to shift focus for a while. Not to a roast chicken but to clean-up the more negelcted parts of the homestead. We were recently blessed with FIFTY mm of life giving rain. A miracle for our semi-desert farming area. Overnight the world has greened up. But the weeds (Wildflower and unwanted) have also exploded.
Thorn trees thrive in our garden. We had to climb in and prune quite severely. Even as I type my hands are aching from days worth of hard labour among the thorns and thistles. The worst is those that sneak up on you. While working in the gardens cleaning up one inevitably grabs a handful of young thorn trees coming up among the herbs. It is a nasty surprise. My hands feel like the back of a hedgehog!
The stinging nettle had to be brought back under control. As much as I love it for its healing properties, it still needs to know its place! A stroll through the garden paths and around the fruit trees is no fun when a young bush of stinging nettle sneaks up to bite you at every second step!
There were a couple thorn trees that have overcrowded valuable growing space - as I said they thrive in this area - they had to go! It was a huge job.
Just when I was questioning the value of those unloveable Wildflowers - or in this instance - Wild Trees! FarmerBuckaroo climbed in with a chainsaw.
Much to the disgust of Maggie-the-escape-artist, we discovered her stash of eggs. Hidden deep inside the thorn trees.
This Spring's #gardenjournal has been fraught with challenges. I have been severely challenged in my love of weeds. However we have also learned some exciting new lessons. Our neighbour brought a few bottles of plum cuttings from his trees, in exchange for some cuttings from our plum trees. His theory is that it is the easier form of cross-pollination. The bees were as fascinated by the swinging vases as we were!
Because of the return of the rain to the area we are finally reconnecting a lot of our gardens. This was half of the reason for the clean-up. We have designated neglected areas that are going to be reinstated as herb gardens - happy dance. Also ..... drum roll .... We have started planting trees!!!
I have been beyond excited to find that so many of my herbs have been dormant for years. In the gardens that we cleaned up huge patches of yarrow, wild rocket, echinacea, wild garlic and evening primrose is coming up. The old, blocked sprinklers are being replaced.
Where the irrigation pipes have baked in the sun for years, the sprinklers once again water my gardens. Maybe this month, if my naughty chickens promise to behave, I may plant them a new garden too. We discovered a new and local heirloom seed company. It is small but their seeds are wonderful! We have had high germination with them, unlike (sadly) the better known companies. Another homesteading friend gifted me with some peanuts for the gardens, which the BuckarooBabies are excited to plant. And then there are my special medjool dates I've been saving for a couple years. This is the year for planting!!!!
While we savour the sweet colours and scent of blossoming pomegranate, apricot, fig and peach trees I wonder what challenges other gardener's are having? How have you tamed your gardens? For this month's #gardenjournal how about your own post of your wintery homesteading challenges 
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered" Ralph Waldo Emmerson.
