I felt ambivalent about this essay, because as someone who does habitat restoration and wildland stewardship, I really love mugwort. Here in the coastal scrub in the San Francisco Bay Area, it is unusual and fragrant and enhances the landscape. Moreover, it is one of the few local plants that can stand up to some of our nastier invasives. But that’s in a wildland when everything exists in a complex network of friends, relations, and rivals that can go back millions of years. I can see where the situation is different when you are trying to make a community to fit your needs.
This..is wonderful on more than one level including "planting" mental images (I'm someone who thinks better when there are images). There seems an underlying thread of humor that tickles and in a world of serious chaos much needed. Thank you.
Thank you, Shanley, for taking my comment about mugwort and turning it into an essay. I'm still yanking out this insidious weed, much like we are pulling out the ineffective members of congress. If we as a nation don't flip the House and Senate this fall, we're in deep doodoo.
Shanley, your essays just keep getting better and better and your metaphors ever more on point. This is your best so far.
I felt ambivalent about this essay, because as someone who does habitat restoration and wildland stewardship, I really love mugwort. Here in the coastal scrub in the San Francisco Bay Area, it is unusual and fragrant and enhances the landscape. Moreover, it is one of the few local plants that can stand up to some of our nastier invasives. But that’s in a wildland when everything exists in a complex network of friends, relations, and rivals that can go back millions of years. I can see where the situation is different when you are trying to make a community to fit your needs.
An outstanding essay. Thank you, from here in the UK.
This..is wonderful on more than one level including "planting" mental images (I'm someone who thinks better when there are images). There seems an underlying thread of humor that tickles and in a world of serious chaos much needed. Thank you.
Your mugwort essay beautifully describes the takeover of the grand old party by utterly malignant smugwort, as well as a humane, effective way out.
Thank you, Shanley, for taking my comment about mugwort and turning it into an essay. I'm still yanking out this insidious weed, much like we are pulling out the ineffective members of congress. If we as a nation don't flip the House and Senate this fall, we're in deep doodoo.
Your mugwort essay deserves a virtual hug.Thank you.
I have often planted something that I have regretted, but never mugwort. I am now using the word smugwort because it is so on the money
I really enjoyed your post on bindweed because it is the first time I have ever seen anyone come close to capturing its utter malignancy.
This post is a whole different order though. Your metaphor and your message both provide a great deal of food for thought.
This is PERFECT!! Thanks, Shanley!!