Weeds in My Garden: Observations on Some Misunderstood Plants

by Charles B. Heiser Jr.

What is a weed? Definitions abound, some more clever than true. For the author, weeds are plants that grow uninvited in places disturbed by people or their animals. But although weeds may invade our fields and gardens, most are not aggressive away from disturbed areas. Some have notable virtues, whether medicinal, culinary, or even ornamental. Not intended to be a manual of weed identification — although the descriptions, drawings, and photographs will help readers name many of their newfound friends — or weed eradication, this book is for anyone interested in weeds as plants. A veritable natural history of weeds, it will encourage readers to look anew at these previously unwelcome guests.

Genres: Nature, Gardening

260 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Charles Bixler Heiser Jr.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best botanical exposition I have read lately. Although rather thorough coverage of many kinds of plants that could possibly be construed as weeds, it has very limited use for anything other than trivia. In the introduction the author writes that it is not meant to be an identification guide, which makes sense in the context of his purpose for the books. However, I found that not having some sort of picture for each entry made it really hard for me to connect all the random facts with actual plants that I know. I do know many of these plants, but not by name so pictures would have been extremely helpful. The written description given with each entry was hardly sufficient. The "virtues" of each plant are occasionally fascinating but more often random and frustratingly vague. All this could have been mitigated by an engaging writing style, but that also was disappointing. The author is obviously interested in these weeds in his university garden but he lacks the fascinated pleasure found in the writings of most gardeners and plant enthusiasts. It isn't completely dry and academic, but it isn't written by a passionate master of the written word either.

If you like miscellanea you may appreciate this book. As it is I am not quite sure what niche this fills or what its purpose might be. For me it was a moderately interesting, quick browse.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, I really did. Many "weeds" can be naturalized and perform quite admirably in the more difficult terrain that surrounds my pond and I was hoping this book would help me find some new ones. Also I expected from the title to find that the tone would be amusing and narrative. Not so much. This book is less helpful than my other weed books, and does not work well as pleasure reading either. I do enjoy the occasional tone of delighted discovery as the author, Charles Heiser, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Botany at Indiana University, describes his encounters with the weeds that appear in the University plots. He clearly enjoyed writing this book, and I am sure he would be a marvelous professor. I did not love his book.

[Sandy D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rambling discourse on selected weeds around Bloomington, Indiana, where C.B. Heiser was a professor of botany. Heiser's rather well-known (in certain obscure fields like paleoethnobotany, anyway), and not a bad writer, either. This is a bit like reading an old herbal - it's not so much a guide to weeds as a bunch of short essays, very informal. I liked it a lot but if you're not into gardening or herbs I don't think you'll be interested.

My favorite bit of new knowledge from this book: another common name for the dandelion used to be "pissabed" because that's what it made you do (its a diuretic).

[AstroDime Authority · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice book for people into botany and weediness. Personable and understandable.