A Different Point of View 

Good morning, Keith. 

I always look forward to reading your Monday Morning Musings, even if I have to wait until Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning on occasion. 

I hope you don’t mind me sharing a slightly different perspective on this week’s Musing. You see, I too was once driven for a clean and green, pristine lawn. Like you, weeds were the enemy of my turf and I had to address them almost immediately. However, several years ago I abandoned that mindset and had a change in ‘values.’ 

Today my lawn grass has been invaded by patches of white clover, dandelions, and plantain weeds. It doesn’t always measure up to the green turf of my neighbors, but that’s OK. I still feed/fertilize my lawn and use Milky Spore to treat for grubs. But I avoid products like Round-Up, even if it means dealing with the Creeping Charlie, Crabgrass, Henbit, prostrate spurge, or chickweed. 

Why the change in my values? I picked up a new hobby about 8 years ago – I’m a beekeeper. I’ve learned so much, and I’m still learning about being an apiarist. What I didn’t expect from the hobby, is that it has given me a new perspective. Honeybees love white clover – and our family and friends enjoy the light-colored honey they produce from it. When I’m tending to the hives and get the occasional bee sting (I’m considered a ‘below average’ beekeeper since I only get about 5-10 stings a year compared to the average “beek” who gets 50), I find a plantain weed, pull off a couple of leaves, ground them with my fingers and fingernails to create a semi-paste that when rubbed on the sting offers relief from pain and swelling (the antidote is right in my lawn). Our honeybees help to pollinate our flowers and plants throughout the neighborhood and many of our friends with whom we share our honey tell us how their pollen allergies have 

resided or disappeared since they have been eating it. There are many other uses from bee products besides the honey – beeswax, pollen, and propolis. All made possible in part because of some weeds – – – weeds that aren’t really ‘weeds’ at all, it just happens to be our perspective or value that makes them a bad ‘weed.’ (I haven’t changed my mind on poison ivy – – – still a bad weed!) 

Beekeeping has reinforced patience (to remain calm when you have thousands of stinging insects around you, and sometimes you have to walk away and regroup) and an understanding of our ecosystem. This has given me a greater appreciation of God’s gifts . . . even if it looks like a weed, it has a purpose and can be beneficial. 

Thanks for letting me share a different point of view – I believe that differences are truly blessings. 

“Bee” well my friend. 

Ken