I decided years ago that I have no weeds in my garden, they all grow exactly where I want them. They are all plants and have their place in the ecosystem. It takes some time to unlearn the Victorian obsession with control and tidiness.

@jennandcherries

Жыл бұрын

I love weeds. They are free plants for your garden. When I see a weed with flowers I dig it up and move it where I want it to grow and spread. Effortless and cheap gardening ❤

Hi 👋 Nebraska USA here 😀 fun story, last weekend my 7 year old granddaughter and I took a walk. She picked a dandelion. I told her that was ok but don’t pick them all. She said… well it’s just a weed 😊 We talked about the importance of the dandelion and how they are the 1st food for the bees and butterflies. We talked about them not really being a weed because they are food for the tiny things that live in our world. She totally grasped that idea because later I heard her telling her big brother the very same thing 😁💖 Thank you for your videos. I very much I joy them ❤😊

absolutely agree with you! dandelions are always welcome in my urban multi-species lawn, but when they get in the flowerbeds, my god they’re beasts 😂 i once dug up a 4 foot long single dandelion root when i was planting up an herb bed!! i always wonder how we can best help to change people’s minds about “weeds” and lawns. people say they like to see wild nature down in the country, but most seem to believe that in residential areas the natural world must be heavily controlled and subdued, and any plant or animal that disobeys should be eradicated. i really don’t know how to approach a neighbour of mine who sprays systemic herbicide all along the public path right outside of our row of houses; I saw him do it once and was so speechless i couldn’t tell him to stop. the spray even killed some of my plants growing along my fence. I really wish shops wouldn’t sell weedkiller AT ALL, to be honest.

Thank you for championing our wildflowers and wildlife and giving us some great ideas of what to do in our gardens!

Yes, a constant struggle in our house to explain why I’ve left patches of forget me nots, dandelions, dead nettles. It’s so engrained in our psyche. My other issue is identifying the tiny germinating seedlings, I’ve decided just to leave them and see what they become. I’m keeping an eye on the grass verges along the road to see how often they are mown. At the moment we have dandelions and daisies, let’s hope they leave it at least for May.

I love the look of a field of dandelions. I think they're a beautiful flower. Unfortunately, it's been ingrained in people all their lives that they are undesirble.

I’m going for a no mow summer this year in both my front and back gardens. Very excited to see what grows!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Yes! SO good to read this Liz :) I am going to be doing a video on this and the best way to manage, but I'm so glad that you're considering all those insects that make their home in May, only for it to be destroyed in June... Let me know how you get on, and thank you for giving this a go :) Best wishes, Joel

Dandelions are magnificent aren't they Joel. Useful and beautiful. 👍😊. In these here parts the mowing regimes have eased off thankfully and the Dandelions are flourishing and plentiful for any pollinators out braving the rain and seed eaters. A sight to behold. I agree, no such thing as a "weed". All have a part to play in the grand scheme of things. All hail the Dandelion 🙏. Sadly Joel the manufacturers of the poisons hold too much sway and influence as in most areas of life. Nature is under attack sadly. Keep up the great work. Paul 😊

Not cutting mine period my neighbours have stopped talking to us but hey that’s their loss

I have come to an agreement with the dandelion. I allow it free reign in my front garden and the bumblebees and other insects are attracted to this early spring flower. The back garden is a dandelion free zone to allow for other smaller wild flowers a space in the lawn. Actually, buttercups get free reign in the back garden.

Good luck with your RHS endeavor!! Totally agree & support the fact we need to change the prevailling langauge & mindset we have regarding our native plants!! I was literally walking in Wales today and had to take a moment to capture the Dandelions along the roadside all in their peak display 💛

Only this morning, I watched a pair of greenfinch and a small charm of goldfinch, really enjoying a feast of dandelion seeds in my garden. Joy!

Totally agree. These dandelions are wildflowers, and should be treated as such and not as weed. They play such an important role and source of food after the scarcity of winter for so many animals, from your pollinators, birds to larger wildlife. Thanks Joel for your tireless work in trying to push that message👍. I hope that you and Nikki are well and excited with the big date approaching!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hello! Great to hear from you, so much going on this side (as usual!) but I've definitely been proactive, along with a fair few others on social media. You won't get to see this article where you are, but here's an interview I did about The RHS: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/28/rhs-criticised-selling-products-kill-bugs-wildflowers-royal-horticultural-society-slugs-snails-pests There's a quote or two from the wonderful Stephen Moss who I interviewed for this channel too :) Amongst work and everything else we're certainly facing it head on. But big news is that RHS did make a statement after a meeting I had with them, and particularly after The Guardian got involved ;) Hope you and Karen are well - the wedding will be here before we know it at this rate! Best wishes - Joel

Dandelions have are loved in Asia where they are perceived as symbolising the Sun, Moon and Stars. A simple idea that changed my appreciation these underappreciated flowers. 🌄 🎑 🌠

Yes! Let's support native wildflowers. In Minnesota, dandelions (and creeping charlie) are invasive, so I'm okay with people removing them, but only if they replace those flowers with native wildflowers from our region. I can't believe it when people want to get rid of the native violets (Viola sororia and Viola canadensis). Similar to dandelions, they are early bloomers, super easy to grow, and great food for insects. Aside from that, they are absolutely adorable!

As you advised last year, I'm cutting the grass in my back garden with a higher cut. The grass looks tidy, and I and the wildlife can still enjoy the abundant daisies and dandelions that the lawnmower blade miss. Also in a different area I have a no mow area for the whole of spring and summer, with just a path mowed through the middle and along the side of hedges. Looking absolutely lovely. In the front garden there will also be an area that I will stop mowing for the summer, as it looked so lovely last year. Thanks for all you advise.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

This is so brilliant to read Carl, thank you. What you are doing is EXACTLY what we need more of. A path, kept from end of March ideally, through a grown lawn ensures that nothing takes refuge or uses this area, just for it to be cut down in June (not by all, of course) - but your way is the best way. Thanks ever so much for your continued support - best wishes, Joel

Nice one Joel, I'd say one of your most important videos yet 👍

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, so much. I thought so too re importance, not sure if you saw this article but it made a huge difference: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/28/rhs-criticised-selling-products-kill-bugs-wildflowers-royal-horticultural-society-slugs-snails-pests Best wishes - Joel

@theurbanghost

Жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Good work Joel! 🐝

They are so beautiful!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hi Michael - they certainly are, I hope more and more people come to see them as a wonderful sign of spring and know that they are food for so many early emerging creatures. Best wishes, Joel

Driving around where I live there absolutely loads of dandelions everywhere, although I did see council mowers going around cutting sadly but still lots of uncut areas with lots of these wildflowers, our back gsrden has lots of these as well.

I’ve always loved dandelions ❤ my tiny garden is bright yellow at the moment. But I always deadheaded them to cut down the spread to neighbours until 2 years ago when I witnessed the beautiful sight of a pair of birds (think they were finches) holding down a seed head and plucking the seeds out. Now I leave them ❤ but I must confess I do pull them from my teeny tiny veg patch 😉 Love your videos. 👍

Keep fighting the good fight Joel, I emailed my council today as they continually mow the long strips of grass along the sides of the roads which when left to their devices grow rich with dandelions. So frustrating to see them being destroyed for no good reason.

Dandy lions are yummy !!!!

Our local road verges in the estate where I live was awash with dandelion and daisies last weekend. Sadly and unbelievably I saw that central Bedfordshire council saw fit to send their council workers out to mow it all 😢. None of this was in anyones way and and I can see no good reason to do this. It looked absolutely beautiful before it was decided to cut it all down. There would have been thousands of insects in there 😢

@fiona12451

Жыл бұрын

I know, I hate to see this too. One day the magnificent Dandelion will be appreciated. So when I see them being mowed by roadsides I imagine this day...a sea of sunny Dandelions making people smile.

Great video:) Dandelions are great and I think the whole plant is edible (don't quote me there). Did have to remove the ones in the flowerbed with a small spade as they were swamping my other wildflowers. The ones in the lawn got to stay and they have been amazing:)

Another issue with lawns and the upper classes, it was a symbol of how much land and money they had that they could afford to waste land on growing grass which has no purpose whatsoever. Lower classes had to grow their own fruit and veg and dedicated all their land to it for their survival.

i used to be guilty of using far too much pest and weed control in my garden until i realised how much wildlife there was and how what i was doing could have impacted them, yes my garden isn't the pretiest , i weed by hand and let parts go wilder than i should but the results i get with seeing the bees nesting under my shed or in the regular nightly visits by several hedgehogs , and last year watching bats hunting insect above the garden make it all worth while ... it only an edge of town garden but what we do with it matters for us all and the wildlife that visits it ... agree totally and i'm stopping the use of "weed" as a way to define these plants and too look at them in a more beneficial way i would also love to "no mow" but with a large family dog trying to clean up after him in long grass is a no no ... but what i might try is a no mow corner and see how that goes

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Steve, it's so good to read this, it's made my day! I agree with no-mow May, but I fret more about what happens to all the insects/creatures that have made the longer grass their home, laid larvae etc and then come June it's seen as an excuse to go all out and remove it all. You're actually doing the best thing though Steve, designate an area that you're prepared to leave and keep the rest mown, that way you'll have no disappointed (or dead!) creatures and the starlings etc will still hunt around in the shorter grass for grubs. I need to do a video on this as a lot of my clients now leave strips that aren't mown until autumn time, giving everything a much better chance. Let me know what comes up in the unmown lawn - you can always keep a higher setting on the mower when you're maintaining the shorter areas for the dog - and I do empathise about large dogs! ;) Thanks ever so much again for your words, they're absolutely spot on. Best wishes, Joel

Hey Joel! Wow that really does look amazing, I bet it was humming with insects! I really think for those who are a little bit uptight about their lawns the way to go is to make wild patches and areas where you don't mow, they really do look like a feature and provide the best fodder for wildlife. The dandelions have been amazing this year and I hope that's down to gardeners leaving them alone and people telling the time with the "clocks" haha. Amazing the difference it makes to birds and insects. Really great video and great that so many people feel the same about these amazing flowers. Best wishes.

My yard almost looked like that, make a wish seed heads now. They've all been replaced with buttercups 😊

Lovely to hear! I've Been saying for years there is no such thing as "weeds", they are wild flowers. Just the other day I tried to search what grows well along side Dandelions, but every result was how to get rid of them :( Anyways I have a spectacular patch of Dandelions, Vetch, Lambs Lettuce, plantain, forget-me-nots and White Dead nettle at the moment that all seem to get along well..., can you tell I have a Tortoise buddy, hehe.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hi Vic - lucky tortoise! Yes, this is exactly what I found when I was trying to research why they are hated so much, any mention of dandelions and up pops several pesticide remedies - all with the poor dandelion on the front, as an advertisement for the "worst" "weed". It shows their determination and will, that despite many years of being hated, they've still succeeded :) Glad to meet someone else that appreciates them too. Best wishes, Joel

I live in the Pacific Northwest we have lots of hawks and eagles I love seeing these beautiful open fields they are so needed. thanks for this video!🦅🌲🌲

Lately I've been enjoying watching the Sparrows taking pecks at the Dandelion flower heads. Once you've seen that, you'll never want rid of them.

@SisterDogmata

Жыл бұрын

Very true! Watch out for finches on them too they love the seeds.

I am lucky to live SW of France, lots of many bees, butterflies, insects including reptiles such as green and brown lizards in the garden because there are wild flowers nearby and also in my garden.

@453421abcdefg12345

Жыл бұрын

But do you find the local authority (around Cahors),mows the verges 3 mts back from the road every 3 weeks, ours do and also cut back any tree or shrub, it has no ill effect as there are plenty of wild Orchids in the field, it is all a matter of quantity of wild flowers really. Chris B.

In Florida we have bidens alba most people hate them but i have huge ones growing in pots the bees love them and the butterflies.

I have really enjoyed it, I never saw a field of dandelions like this before. In Dalat we had some but not as much as that. As an adult I still like to blow them 😁

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Wow Thao, I just had to google Dalat... what a wonderful and beautiful area you live in. Waterfalls.. mountains...I love learning about the other parts of the world :) Yes, there is a certain urge to blow on a dandelion and it never quite leaves you :) Hope you had a good weekend, best wishes - Joel

@thaojuli

Жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Dalat was urbanized much more than 30 years ago. But it is still one of beautiful city with nice weather in Vietnam. Have a great day!

Great video thanks for sharing

👏🏽

❤ the video. I’ve more discussion to have with my hubby. Still to buy some plants 🪴 for the front garden which is small with a lovely 😊 hedge.

That field is a thing of beauty. Their shaggy little heads and shade of yellow just makes me happy. 😊 I'm not sure about the rest of the country but in the South West I'm noticing more Brimstones than in previous years. We have several 'bumblebee runways' in Spring and Summer because I noticed while doing flower counts that different species grow in different parts of the garden. 😊

The dandelions and nettles are so important for the bees and insects this time of year. I leave them around my plot for this reason as I want to attract more wildlife.

Bees need these plants as well as other so called weeds. As each new housing development appears more and more wildlife disappears. Gardens are no longer thought a part of these developments even the so called trees that are planted are dead within a year. Hate to think that in 20 years children will not know what wildlife is.

I absolutely adore the magnificent Dandelion... Such a beautiful plant with so many health benefits. Thank you Joel! ..Brilliant video as always 🌱🌻💚

Really looking forward to the RHS video, that would be amazing if you could change their thinking towards weed killer and insecticides 🐝

I’ve never seen a grass meadow with so many Dandelions growing on it 😮 Thanks for the video Joel 😉

My Dandelions are staying.

Hi Joel fab vlog. I stopped mowing my lawn last year and am very happy to see this year I have wild flowers in it. Particularly Celandine, which I love and have now covered a large section of my lawn. I have a larger section of rough garden that is covered with Dandelion and I am letting them grow for a few reasons. Firstly because they are food for Bees and butterfly's. Secondly because they are a very beneficial food for me, flowers, leaves & roots are packed with goodness. And thirdly they are doing the work of breaking up the hard compacted clay soil on the slope, which means less work for me!! It truly is a win win situation to have plenty of Dandelions in a garden.

What a beautiful field 🥰 I have to say that round my way, things are slowly getting better. The council seem to have stopped spraying the grass verges and aren’t mowing as often as they used to. At the moment the verges are looking glorious, full of dandelions, daisies and celandines.

Is it just me but I don't remember the last time I saw a buttercup?

A 'weed' is simply a plant growing in a spot that wasn't your choice! TBH I do struggle with self-seeders as I have acute OCD and I have to REALLY fight to ignore them ( not always successfully I must say ).

Magnificent! 👏👏👏💛 love them!

Good video. Re No Mow Summer I would say that the strip round the edges/middle etc should he encouraged as part of the lawn/meadow/verge management plan as wildlife needs that variety of height

I love your videos. Learning more every time. Three of my neighbours have changed their lawns to fake grass. Do you have any info I can give them and more importantly the other neighbours. To prevent this trend spreading?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

I'm so pleased you found us Adam and that you're a part of this wonderful community that we have here. So sorry to hear about the awful appearance of the fake grass. I want to do a video on this, knowing full well that I'll get backlash from the manufacturers and installers, but when this "fashion" ends and people realise that they are NOT maintenance free then where will all this end up? Landfill or, as I've seen recently, dumped at the side of a country road. Artificial grass is not maintenance free, "weeds" will still grow through it, it needs chemicals to keep it fresh-smelling and they have even "invented" outdoor hoovers/mowers to keep them barren looking. One thing that will never leave me is when I was undertaking a consultation for a client that had just moved into a property, with fake grass. When I was speaking to her I looked down and in amongst the vast fake "grass" was a lone grasshopper, I obviously grabbed it and released it in a grassy area a little way away. Hope this helps in the meantime, good luck with spreading the word. Best wishes, Joel

@adamcook5374

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Joel. I will try my best to stop the trend. The last neighbour who put in fake grass has lots of lovely fruit trees. I think they will regret their decision. Keep up your good work.

I constantly see on my school bus council's mowing verges just as all the wildflowers are coming up normally on one there are red clover napweed and a family of voles lived there last year but sadly this year it has already been mown

Sending email now, although I have noticed they're leaving verges more these days here in Middlesex. Hopefully old fashioned views will disappear soon for everyone's sake 🌍

When I was at horticultural college, our teachers said that weeds were flowers that were simply in the wrong place, that there was nothing 'bad' about any of our native plant species. It was just a matter of attitude. I'm glad to say that in 'most' of the horticultural establishments where I worked (starting from nearly 40 years ago), there were wild areas included in the grounds. Some were really quite extensive too. One of the best was in a park in the middle of a built-up Essex town - where we were privileged to have Kingfishers. So it's definitely the public that needs to be convinced that they don't have to be so regimented and obsessively clean and tidy about their gardens. The RHS, unfortunately, does need to include themselves in this re-education. They probably give space to chemical products because the likes of Monsanto 'pay' them very good money to keep advertising them. But also, garden centres and supermarkets should be doing more to promote wild flowers on their shelves. Precious few do more than offer boxes of wild flower seed... I'm actually trying to remember when I last saw wild flowers for sale and all I can think of is pots of Snowdrops (likely hybrids anyway) and packets of dried up Lily of the Valley roots.

I love dandelions but the council and most people take them as a sign to start mowing the less we have different plants and flowers than slightly brown grass

I’ve begun to let dandelions have their place in my garden and I’ve not seen any issues so far but, is speedwell beneficial to any insects at all as one of my border is full of it!

it all depends on how you view and deal with them

Thank you so much for the videos and letting us understand lots of wonderful things that we can do to help our beautiful Planet God Bless you 🐶🐱🐭🐰🦊🐔🐧🐦‍⬛🦆🪿🐥🐣🦉🦇🪱🐝🦋🐞🐜🦗🦟🪳🪲🪰🕷️🕸️🦂🐢🐙🦎🐬🐟🐳🐋🦧🦍🦣🐘🦏🐄🐑🐏🐖🫏🦮🐈🦌🪽🐓🦃🦤🦚🐇🦜🦢🦨🦡🦫🦦🦔🐁🦥🦡🐾🌲🪵🌳🍃☘️🎍🐚🍄💐🌹🌼🪻🌼🌞🌕🌍❤️🙏

I remember the old saying about the dandelion if you pick them you will wet the bed😂😂😂😂

@SisterDogmata

Жыл бұрын

In France they're called pissenlit which I think might be where the myth comes from.

Hamari Yahi Khushi Hoti Hai Sab bahan bhaiyon Ka Sath De aur Aap Ki Kashish diya karo mere bahan bhaiyon Katre Katre Se Dariya banta hai miljul kar Chalte Jaenge to bahut jaldi Kamyab Ho jaenge

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hello! It really does, some planting and seeding to do around the edges but what a setting huh? Hope you're having a good weekend, went on a perennial plant haul earlier today, and like everyone, I probably came back with more than I needed! ;) Best wishes to you all, Joel

Hello... I'm from India. Number of HOUSE SPARROWS are declining... Give us some solutions to bring them back

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hi Nilanjan! Sorry to hear that they are declining in India too, they were such a common bird in UK 20 years ago but they are now on our Red List for Endangered Species, something I never thought I'd see. For us here it is a lack of nesting sites (our houses use UPVC for fascia etc) and a lack of hedging for them to nest. Also, due to a lack of habitat there are many less insects which they rely on to bring moisture to their young. There is a wonderful community here that are all trying to do their bit to help. It's great to have you as a part of this. I hope the channel is helpful to you. Thank you, and best wishes - Joel

Someone noted how successful the Geum weed was & developed different coloured plants for sale, there's a market for you, different coloured Dandelions.

@debbiehenri345

Жыл бұрын

I don't think I've ever seen a Dandelion that is even a shade different from the classic sunshine yellow. Leaves - yes, they differ. I have 3 types of Dandelion in my garden. The classic type, one that was cultivated to have thicker leaves for culinary uses (so that has part of a border all its own), and one that I'm thinking may be a cross between the two with long crispy leaves.

i was inb and q the other day and was shocked that all the week killer has dandelions on there saying it kills them. why dont people want them in the grass? we have sown wild flower seeds in our grass so we ger loads of flowers! lol

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more - one of the reasons I ended up meeting with the RHS on 21 April is because I'd uploaded a post to Twitter about how dandelions are hated and then searched products as every one I'd ever seen always had a "bad" (!) dandelion on the front. When I googled weed killer I was so shocked to see that the RHS had branded their own weed killer, slug pellets etc after being in partnership with the Wildlife Trusts for 5 years! Although they had stopped their own brand it is all still available in outlets. When I saw they were selling other branded killers I raised it with them and as of 2 weeks ago now they have said they're no longer selling it online or in their shops, and that our beautiful wildflowers will no longer be referred to as weeds :) Best wishes, Joel

Another one I can't hear sound on, anyone else? I get the intro music then silence.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Sorry about this Joe, I have just played the first 5 mins and seems ok, I think some other people have been able to view. Not sure what to suggest unfortunately. Hope it changes! Best wishes, Joel

@joemyers5302

Жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I've figured it out. Some of your videos only have sound on the right side, and my right earphone was broken. Your intro music comes through on both sides which is why I could hear it. I now have a fully functioning pair of earbuds so I can hear you again.

Dandelions are not weeds. My desert turtles thrive on a diet of them and Hibiscus blossoms.

What perplexes me, is several videos recently from people promoting wildflower planting etc, but telling their followers to make sure they pull out dandelions. 🤦🏻‍♀️

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Agreed Bec! When I met with the RHS on 21 April, I pointed out that after being in partnership with the wildlife trusts for over 10 years, still demonising our wildflowers as weeds and the selling of weed killer and bug/slug poisons etc, it wasn't conducive in relaying to traditional gardeners that changes were needed. Insects are vital pollinators and of course play a huge role in food sources for birds needing to give moisture to their young. Best wishes, Joel

Of course, there is no money in not selling glyphosate, hence RHS will be reluctant to send out the message that will save our health and eco system. My problem is with local council spraying along our fence line on the front, side and back garden, doing so regardless of the wind and killing my plants and health of soil. I try to get one step ahead by "weeding" and hoeing their assigned borders, but they still insist on spraying. And I have spoken to the workers, but the argue their case - which is stupidity. We all debate the plight of bees, but we are killing them with glyphosate and taking away a source of food. I used a selective weed killer for grass weeds, in particular clover, for a golfing putting green. The bees love clover. The next day showed a massacre of bees on the lawn. Its dangerous for our health and lethal to insects.

We need to get away from these old wives tales that calls them wet the beds as when I was a kid many years ago it puts them in a bad light I now look forward to seeing them everywhere

I blew the seeds all around my yard garden last year. It’s a very cheery place now. To me rhododendrons are weeds. I really don’t like them. As for the RHS I joined a few years ago and then cancelled after seeing their despicable ads for poisons for gardens. I have many slugs, snails, wood bugs, centipedes and beautiful green flies (blow flies)? They queue up to get in the food waste bin. Doing their magnificent job.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

So good to read this Peg :) I met with them on Friday 21 April at Wisley, after a social media post that I made regarding their partnership with the Wildlife Trusts over 10 years and them still referring to our wildflowers as weeds and of course the promotion of weed killer, moss killer, slug pellets etc. I will do an update video to relay to everyone how the meeting went, but am pleased to say that over the weekend there was a flurry of press releases and radio interview advising of their intended changes :) Your garden sounds an absolute haven and you're clearly being rewarded for your thoughtfulness and efforts. Thank you Peg, best wishes - Joel

@snail6queen6hammy

Жыл бұрын

My yard garden is 3 years old. Just brick pavers. I have troughs and pots. Last year peacock, comma, tortoiseshell butterflies and something I had never seen before, hummingbird hawk moth. Such excitement. The pavers have rose of Sharon pushing up between them. 😻

Actually, "woke" would fit much better those people who comment and act on the fact that insects deserve our full protection in stead of many other so called "woke" topics in my view. You are very woke Joel !