Desert Messenger

10 www.DesertMessenger.com March 20, 2024 Gardening with Dennis * * WEEDS * * By Alex Taft This winter was thankfully, a wet year with lots of rain to help trees and shrubs recover from drought in years past. The downside of all this rain is weeds! It's a big subject. There are countless varieties of weeds and identifying them all is a major task, because the term, 'weeds' is not bo- tanical nomenclature. According to Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, weeds are, "any plant that is use- less or troublesome. The word has no definite application to any par- ticular plant or species of plants, but whatever plants grow among corn, grass, flowering plants that are of no use to man or, injurious to crops are denominated as weeds". In short, a plant becomes a weed when we de- cide we do not want it, regardless of its medicinal or nutritional proper- ties, appearance or other attributes. As Steph Coelho writes in her arti- cle, "Edible Weeds", "Ever since hu- mans first attempted the cultivation of plants, they have had to fight the invasion by weeds into areas chosen for crops. Some unwanted plants later were found to have virtues not originally suspected and so were re- moved from the category of weeds and taken under cultivation. Other cultivated plants, when transplant- ed to new climates, escaped cultiva- tion and became weeds or invasive species. The category of weeds thus is ever changing, and the term is a relative one. - For one person, a dandelion may represent an ugly nuisance: a blemish on an other- wise perfectly manicured lawn. For another, the vigorous yellow flower is a nutritious edible weed that makes the ideal addition to a lunchtime salad or the perfect ingredient for an evening cup of tea." I reference this author to offer a perspective about weeds. That said, the fact is that when the hot weather comes, they will die and leave prickly dead plants all over the yard. How to get rid of weeds can be a tedious process. You can pull them up one by one while they are relatively young and easy to up- root. Some desert weeds are covered in stickers so using gloves is a must. Another option is to use an herbicide. The chemicals will kill the weeds and then they will have to be raked and tossed out. A non-toxic method to get rid of weeds is to prepare a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar and spray the weeds with this mix. Some add a little liquid fabric softener to the mix to get the spray to cling to the weeds better. Others opt to let the weeds die of natural causes, namely the summer heat, and then rake what is left of them. Lastly, you can ignore the whole issue and let nature do its thing. You might discover some weeds you like. Below are some of the weeds that have nutritional and medicinal properties: Dandelion leaves can be used in spring salads. Their leaves also make a fortifying tea that herbalists recommend to strengthen the liver – Louise Tenney, "Today's Herbal Health" Brittle Bush has greyish-green leaves and yellow flowers. It is a roadside wildflower and a relative of sunflowers. The leaves can be made into a tea that assists with arthritis, rashes and hay fever according to author Charles Kane in his book, "Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest" Datura grows in mounds of trail- ing green leaves, large white flow- ers and large round seed pods. It is considered a powerful analgesic herb, where its leaf pulp can be used on injuries to relieve pain according to author Charles Kane in his book, "Herbal Medi- cine of the American Southwest" Globe Mallow has grey- ish green leaves and stalks of orange flowers. It is a road- side wildflower whose leaves and flowers can be used to make a tea for help with bronchitis or a poultice for reducing swelling from injury ac- cording to author Charles Kane in his book, "Herbal Medicine of the Amer- ican Southwest" These few weeds de- scribed is a very small sample of the edible weeds we have now. "Weeds" is a big topic to discuss because it is ever changing. What is a weed can also be a medicine or an invasive species, or an obnoxious blight upon your otherwise well- landscaped yard. One thing they all have in common is they are persis- tent survivors with or without inter- vention from any of us. The Quartzsite GFWC Women's Club is sponsoring a Vitalant Blood Drive Monday May 18, 2024, 9am to 1pm. Walk-ins are always wel- come, but it is faster if you pre-reg- ister. Call Vitalant 877-258-4825 or Becky Johnstone 208-634-9304. Blood Drive The Quartzsite Senior Center is hosting Three Raffles for some great prizes! You could win: #1: A Motorized GoGo Scooter. Tickets are $10 each. #2: One of two Beautiful Quilts. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. #3: A Craft Basket filled with hand- made items from our craft fair! Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Purchase Tickets anytime at the Quartzsite Senior Center during regular hours 9am-3pm Monday- Friday. The Drawing will be held at the final craft fair of the season on Saturday, April 20th! You do not need to be present to win! Buy your tickets at the Senior Center and view the items on display. 40 S. Moon Mountain Ave., Quartzsite. Quartzsite Historical Society is hosting a Free OLDE TYME DAYS Saturday, March 23rd from 10am- 4pm. There will be free treats, play hands-on games, fund, friendly, education, storytelling, historical displays and demonstrations. The fun happens at Tyson's Well Stage Museum, located at 161 W. Main St., Quartzsite, just east of Silly Al's Pizza. Senior Center Raffles Olde Tyme Days SNOWBIRD CAFE formerly Dorothy & Toto's Ice Cream Shop WILL BE OPEN ALL SUMMER for your convenience! ICE CREAM - KETTLE CORN BREAKFAST & LUNCH Open 9am-7pm Daily 205 W. MAIN ST. Quartzsite, AZ Indoor and Outdoor Seating 907-903-0388 Town of Quartzsite uploaded their 2024 Schedule of Fees-Rates on their website February 28, 2024. Quartzsite Town Council approved and adopted the new fees by Reso- lution 23-08 on December 12, 2023 and became effective on January 11, 2024. Council approved additional fees by Resolution 24-01 on Janu- ary 23, 2024. All files including the Schedule of Fees-Rates, and both Resolutions can now be found online at: https:// www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/news_de- tail_T21_R46.php Town fees online

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