Weeds

This morning I  ventured down to the bottom of the garden - the bit we call the Badlands. Or the Wildlife Garden, if we are trying to make out that we planned it to be a largely undisturbed, self-sown mass of willows, nettles and brambles. Water from the spring higher up the hill collects down there, so it doubles as a swamp.

But the birds, bugs, badgers and foxes love it. And I try to love it too, though I don't go there often. But this morning I was looking for something for the WildWed challenge, and I thought I'd find it there.

Thinking of wilderness  and looking at water and weeds reminded me of a line of Gerard Manley Hopkins - 'Long live the weeds and the wildness yet.'  They're alive and well down there.

I think the tanged mass above is what's left of one of last year's nettles. No doubt, under the tangle, this year's generation is pushing its way through.