Rooting Around in the Spring

Weeding...that dreaded ugly activity that some put off until the weeds are beginning to take over.  Some who love the earth less than the rest of us will use a toxic chemical that can wend its way through the earth into rivers, streams and aquifers, a process that requires money but little physical effort on their part.  Some, like me, find weeding therapeutic and try to do it right after a heavy rain and before seed heads form.  We love that neat and tidy look at the end of a back braking afternoon and are in an 'other' category.

While visiting the National Botanic Gardens in D.C. the other weekend we stumbled across a really cool display about roots.  Roots that feed weeds and non-weeds both of which are hard to define.

Roots that grow above and below ground.  Roots that are attached to the mother plant and others that attach to corms and tubers.

Then we came upon a really cool display of various grasses and their roots.

It was as if someone had cut through the middle of a prairie to show us that secret underground.  Look at the mass and length of this food/water transportation system.  You should also realize that some roots send out chemicals to deter different plant species or attract younger of the same plant species!  Some of which were so long they had to have their toes tied up!

Now when you are pulling your little garden weeds that may reach only a few inches below the surface of the earth, remember this scientist below...

and rest on your laurels.