Heroes and Villains

Prolific plants can be boon -- or bane
By Erle Nickel
Contra Costa Times correspondent

When gardeners hear the word "weed," whether used as a noun or a verb, they're not likely to think "Oh, boy!" Weeding can be time-consuming and backbreaking, and then there's the fact that weeding is all too often a recurring activity. But hold on. Could it be true what that wise philosopher once said, that a weed is only a weed when you don't want it growing in your garden? The tipping point it seems is whether the phrase "self seeds" on a plant sign is greeted with enthusiasm or horror. Read more>