Weeds

What is the difference between "wild flowers", "weeds", and "herbs"? I have been pondering this difference as I am out digging my unwanted garden plants. I have a "kill on sight" list of particularly noxious villains, but many weed plants are quite attractive if seen in a certain objective manner. Of course weeds can be defined as any plant growing where we don’t want it to be… So even garden plants that show up where you dont want them can become a problem. “Weeds” – are whatever we choose to include in that group. Herbs are any plant with soft tissues.

Weeds do have special common characteristics. In the natural world when a tree falls in the forest the soil becomes open to the sunlight, as it also occurs with a fire, landslide, or devastating flood. Over great periods of time, some plants have developed by natural selection to take quick advantage of new opportunities. Most of this group are annual plants that produce vast amounts of seed that can be wind blown or carried in animal poop. Some are perennials that travel by root systems that can quickly spread to fill an area. All of them take advantage of their traits to grow and spread quickly – they are “opportunistic”.

Some human activities are similar to these natural activities – when a field is cleared and plowed for a crop, when a natural forest is removed for grassland or homes, roadsides, construction sites… These locations also provide great opportunity for opportunistic weed plants.

By rapid growth these plants steal space, sunlight, and soil moisture from the plants that humans desire to grow… and so we are at war with them.

To make matters worse many weed plants produce seeds that can survive in the soil for years. Digging up the garden may expose seeds that have been lying dormant. Or weed plants may have such short life spans that there can be several generations produced in one year...each time producing more and more seeds.

Many weeds have been spread accidentally or on purpose as a food crop. A plant that developed by natural selection in one part of the world can grow successfully any place in the world with similar growth conditions - Often displacing native plants already dominant in the location. There are many examples: Pampas Grass, English Ivy, the Wild Oats covering California Hills, and most of the common weeds.

Here are a few weeds that have been part of my life:

Johnson Grass: Native to Mediterranean Europe, this grass spreads by underground runners that grows and spreads so quickly that it blocks the growth of commercial crops. It was introduced as a food source for livestock is poisonous if too much is eaten.

Scarlet Pimpernel: Low growing, can cover large areas if not controlled. Flowers are open only when the sun shines. Native of Europe. A major pest in my back yard.

Goat Weed ( Puncture Vine): The curse of every bicycle rider! Found in southern Europe, southern Asia, throughout Africa, and Australia...and now introduced into the US. The seeds have a series of sharp spines -one of them always pointing upward - so that a bicycle ridden over the seed will be punctured. Perennial with a strong tap root, can with stand very dry summer conditions.

Wild Radish (Raphanus): Native to Asia , Annual or Biennial, Long taproot, May be wild ancestor of edible radish... Spreads rapidly by seed over large expanses - its tall thick growth crowds out other plants. Flowers when they first open are purple/red - but when they get older they become white. I sometimes find families out picking fresh green shoots to cook as greens - they are called wild turnip by some people.

Mustard (Brassica): Native to the entire Mediterranean region of Europe - Wide variety of varieties, all low growing annual plants. Some accounts say that the Bibles reference to the "Mustard tree" is a misinterpretation of the fact that a single seed can result in a large field becoming filled with Mustard in a few short years, so it is an metaphor for the power of faith.

Cheese Weed ( Malva ) - Native to Europe, Asia, and Africa... Wildly effective plant - produces many seeds each season - some varieties of Malva are used as food by humans. ( seeds have 21% protein ). The genus includes mallows and hollyhocks. Green leaves eaten in some cultures. The seeds have the shape of an old fashioned chunk of home made cheese.

Dock ( Rumix ): Also related to Sorrel. My Czech grandmother collected this herb every spring to make a spring tonic. After a long winter eating the foods available in winter - the vitamins in the first Dock of the spring would have a curative power! There are two varieties - the straight leaf dock and the curly leaf dock - they both have oxalic acid in them - curly more than straight...

Oxalis: A front yard filled with pretty yellow oxalis is so bright and cheerful in February - but so invasive. Each plant forms a little bulb that lies dormant until the next rainy season and then returns even stronger - This plant has a seed pod with a spring mechanism that can scatter the seed over extensive distances. Once established oxalis crowds everything and come back for more... This is top of my "Kill on sight" list

Bermuda Grass: Another arch villain - a few seeds of this in a lawn and the entire lawn is replaced with Bermuda Grass. it does produce a decent lawn in the summer if watered, but in the winter it turns brown and dead looking... Bermuda grass is always pushing the boundaries and attempting top grow into all surrounding flower beds, pathways, under rocks, around shrubs... "Kill on Sight"

Morning Glory: Perennial with deep tap root. You can cut it below the soil line a thousand times and it will still come back for more. Only solution is to dig the deep for the tap roots or use a weed killing chemical. Kill on sight at all costs!

Prickly lettuce (Lactura): Sometimes called Chinese Lettuce - has a milky sap - young plants are attractive - older plants become tall and produce vast numbers of winged seeds that are spread in the wind

Bristly Ox Tongue: Some poetic soul imagined that the leaves have the character of a cows tongue - Milky sap - Mediterranean

Dandelion: From the French : "Tooth of the Lion" - deep tap root that you must dig out completely or it will be back - leaves have been grown at a salad green, the flowers can be used for making wine, and which of us as a child did not blow the seed heads off into the wind.

Encounters with Czech Culture

The European war was a regular part of my life as a young child. I heard about the battles on the radio, newsreels showed images of the war's progress, and I heard adults speaking in hushed tones about the results of the war. Since my father's family came from Czechoslovakia there was often discussion about what might have happened to those who had not immigrated. From them we received no word. Year by year in family gatherings we have wondered about them and wondered if there might be some way to make contact.

Karlstein station - Early view of the Czech countryside

Perhaps it is the destiny of first generation Americans to be interested both in the culture they are born into and to be curious about the culture of the foreign born parent. (I grew up with a view of family that tended to emphasize the paternalistic).

Back while Czechoslovakia was still behind the iron curtain, Judy and I explored the possibility of travel there. We talked to a young professor in the Central Valley of California who had gone on a bicycle tour of Bohemia. He encouraged us to visit – as we walked out to the car he said, “ Oh! I can suggest someone you can contact there.”

Gathering around the family table - Such hospitality! - first visit

We wrote to a university student, Vladimir B., inquiring about a possible visit and received back an invitation to stay at his family home. We answered saying “ Oh no, we don’t want to impose on your family…” He answered “ But if you don’t stay with a family you will not really see Czechoslovakia. I really would like to invite you to come. "

And so we planned our first trip – we entered by train from Austria – through the "iron curtain" - there were wooden towers and serious looking guards with machine guns, and police dogs… it was necessary to pass through non smiling security checks… there were secret police cars in evidence on the streets - and watchful eyes observing us.

Our first view of a Czech town from the window of our train - "Before the change"

But once we were in Vladimir’s home – everything changed – people were warm and hospitable and anxious to speak to “Americans”… The visit was a wonderful experience! We had many memorable meals and conversations with family and friends in that home. Incredibly he took us in his Lada car on a long personal tour of Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovakia (the three states of then Czechoslovakia) - mostly staying with friends and every day - every night having fine experiences ... everything from castles to garden parties with roast pork and slivovitz to seeing first hand a Soviet military base... Since then there have been other visits with Vladimir – once just before the Prague Spring, and the third time shortly after the Velvet Revolution. (He was slightly injured in a street demonstration). I was so proud of the Czech people for their peaceful revolution - for the change they brought about.

President Vaslav Havel - before his inauguration at Hradčany ... I passed him on the street!

When I walked into the plaza of Hradčany (the castle grounds of Czech government ) – there was a statue of T. G. Masaryk – I couldn’t stop tears from coming to my eyes – This was just after the repressive years of communist rule - and to see the founding father of the Czech nation (someone my father had greatly respected )- touched me deeply. The Czech people had been through such a time of trial - and now there was now hope and new life possible.

T.G. Masaryk Memorial - Grounds of Hradčanské Square, Hradčany

Over an amazingly short period of years we have seen the birth of the Czech Republic, the development of a capitalist economy, and the resultant change in life style of values of the Czech people. It has been a monumental time. Since our first contact with Vladimir, we have returned to visit his home again, he and several friends came to California and stayed with us, he is now Herr Docktor B. – a noted genetic researcher living in Heidelberg, and the head of a medical genetics laboratory. We have much to thank Vladimir, his wife, and family for - they have given to us generously over the years.

Visiting in the B. family home the first time

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When Andrew was in his last years of high school we talked about having an exchange student in our home – and we were able to have one of the very first Czech students to do an exchange, come into our home for a year – this was Michael G.

Michael is in center playing clarinet, Vojta playing saxaphone

It was a rare learning experience to be with Michael for the year – a positive time for us all. Because of that visit, Michael has been back, his parents have visited us, and we have been the guests of Michael’s parents, and in Michael own comfortable apartment.

Visiting in Vojta's home during our last visit

Michael's mother is a multi talented woman! She is a marvelous cook, and we have had many memorable meals and conversations at their family table. Michael's father has been the technical director of the two Prague Opera houses – and when we visit we have also seen marvelous productions. Michael is now married with a wonderful wife and two small children – he has established a graphic arts business that is doing well and they have recently purchased a small farm property to use as a second home.

Prague roof tops

In our most recent visit – we travelled to Michael's sisters farm outside of Prague. Martin and Marqueta are two bright professional people who have a large family and have chosen to raise their children out of the city on a small farm. Martin in a specialist physician and must travel daily into Prague, Marqueta is a teacher and "manager" of the family. During our visit we discussed the possibility of them sending their son Vojta to live with us for a year in California –and so we have reexperienced the joys and tribulations of having a 16 year old in our home once more. This was two years ago, but Vojta keeps in touch and it is a pleasure to watch him mature and grow. Just now he is back for a visit...reconnecting with friends at the time of their graduation.

The Zlatnik family in the train depot in Praha ( Prague )

I'm not sure I believe in the idea that you can characterise a whole "people" with common characteristics - But I have come to some conclusions about Czechs in general. It is a miracle that despite long occupation by other nations - the Czechs have survived with a unique culture and language, a propensity for humor (a little dark at times), a reputation for inventiveness and design innovations, a tendency toward cynical-realism, a love of music, and a stubborn endurance. Our son Andrew says that every language is really a different way of encountering the world. The Czech language is indeed a rich language.

The past three decades have seen such rapid cultural changes in the Czech people - It is fascinating, that in microcosm, the story of the emergence of the Czech nation can be seen and told in the values, similarities, and differences of the three young men - Vladimir, Michael, and Vojta - each of them representative of the cultures of their times.

Tyn Cathedral towers

So now in the year 2011 – we still have not found our missing family - I have recently taken an interest in genealogy - but only as a means of locating living connections. My research has led me to a woman in Prague that appears to have relatives in common with us – and we are now waiting for more information... Stay tuned...

The Evolution of a Garden

Some people sit down and plan their garden by developing a layout map – how plants will be grouped by flower color and how they will integrate together… Our garden has been developed in a much more flexible manner.

This is what the back yard looked like in the early years. The dominant feature for many years was the "medieval castle" made of scrap lumber – built over a large dirt hole that the boys and their friends took years to dig. It was possible to go from the “dungeon” to the main floor to the “tower” by means of trap doors and ladders. It was never really finished but kept evolving over time.

The "Castle" complete with tower and dungeon - and internal trap doors

It’s a big back yard so there was room for a vegetable garden and flowers. But the main use of the yard was for kids and dogs.

This is what the back yard looked like at this time. It had a few young fruit trees and a lot of empty space.

We planted the fruit trees when we first came - then added no more plants for years....

My sister in law Deb Flory is a leading influence on our garden, giving me a sense of creating a garden to enjoy for its beauty. Deb has introduced me to the concept of growing plants in beds - mass planting or plants interspersed for effect. – She has taught me to try to model the plant arrangement found in nature. She has introduced me to the idea of pathways in the garden to define spaces. She also suggested using a "horse tank" as a water feature.

Steel horse tank- makes a wonderful low maintenance pond!

I went to the nearest farm supply store and purchased the largest horse tank I could carry in the back of a pick-up truck and set it up with mosquito fish and water lilies. Around the outside I have planted plants normally associated with a moist environment. Since the only food the fish get are the insects they catch, there is no nitrogen build up - and there are not problems with algae growing.

When we travelled to Southern Mexico, I noticed that gardens there tends to use plants suited for their seasonal conditions and low water requirements. I thought, ”I wonder what plants are adapted to the climate of Fremont California?” With a little research I discovered that we live in a true Mediterranean climate – the same as the countries around the Mediterranean Ocean, the same as parts of Chili, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, etc…

The "perennial collection" as it looks today - but it is constantly changing - Looking East

Each of these areas, over the millennia, has evolved their own plant varieties suited naturally to those areas – but they will live equally well in any other Mediterranean climates. The problem was were to find these plants – most nurseries only sell plants that are in demand – and most people still want thirsty plants that belong in Western Europe, England, and the East Coast of the US…

Looking south

It has been a gradual process – first to educate myself to plant characteristics – then to find sources for them. I have started going to the plant sales at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park… Volunteers propogate plants and sell many unusual plants for bargain prices. Due to the influence of the people that I talk to in those shows I have been slowly moving toward introducing native Northern California varieties – only because I like their appearance , textures, and variety. I place the plants apart the distance found in a natural setting – also with a little space between plants it is possible to see and enjoy them more. A benefit of many Mediterranean and Native Plants is that is is quite easy to produce more plant from cuttings and root segments.

Two years ago our son Peter helped me remove last vestige of lawn. We rototilled, shaped the soil, covered with weed guard, spread large gravel, and planted small low growing native plants. The garden has matured in two years and it looking unusually attractive this year.

Front Yard - 2 years old - limited to low growing perennials

So now that the rains of this season are finished, there is still moisture in the soil and my mediterranean/native plants are full of life - it is the season for flowers and exuberent growth. As summer progresses they will sink into seasonal inactivity - but they maintain their own special beauty and charm.

Mexican feather grass

How to Make Learning Happen

I am fascinated by what causes learning to occur for students - and why long lasting learning does not occur at other times... Here are ten factors that describe my current thinking on the topic: (All of these reasons are important - they are not listed in order of significance. )

1. At the first of the year when 32 students come walking in the door they are 32 individuals curious about what they will find in this class. The first few days of the semester are the most important time for establishing class culture. What expectations will the teacher have of the students, and what classroom patterns can students expect, will the teacher be consistent or indecisive? It is a crucial task to think in advance what the class culture will be and then have the courage to maintain the goals. It is like training a puppy.

2. It is necessary for a genuine connection to be formed between teacher and students... this is especially important if there are social, economic, class, or racial differences between the teacher and students. It is the teacher who must adapt - Students first response to a new person may be to build walls between themselves and "the stranger" (they may have learned to protect themselves in this way). Working to take down those walls is essential before learning will occur. Students know when you are sincere or not. Sometimes new teachers make the mistake of wanting to be everyones "friend" - This is a sure invitation for disaster - students know you are the authority in the room, it is confusing if they also get the message that "we are equals".

3. Students are not empty vessels just waiting to be filled with knowledge. Each student is a unique collection of knowledge, erroneous ideas, and dispositions toward learning. When the teacher stands before the students with an appreciation for individual students – it changes the act of teaching. Now it becomes necessary to engage students, to get feedback from students, and to respect the different ways in which students approach learning. Our goal is not to train everyone to think like us but instead for each student to become capable of critical thought and problem solving. (Constructivism)

4. Learning “facts” is not effective education– Learning whole concepts is. The water cycle is a concept. So is understanding how the human heart pumps and receives blood from throughout the body, and explaining how water movement in a vascular plant is different from fluid movement in a mammal. Concepts include facts – but they are related into whole ideas. Concepts are like snow balls - you can add on to a small one to make it bigger and bigger... Students can develop a rudimentary understanding of a concept one year and in following years learn more and expand conceptual understanding from elementary school to university.

5. The brain of each human develops according to a predictable sequence of stages - in terms of our ability to deal with abstract concepts. A sixth grader may be able to work with relationships, one variable at a time, if they can see or manipulate a concrete model. For many people, this “concrete” stage of development continues into about the 8th or 9th grade… At some point most of us become able to visualize in our head interaction of two or more variables… the formal thinking stage is born. The stage of abstract reasoning has nothing to do with intelligence – each stage emerges in its own time. (Developmental Psychology)

6. How many times have I heard a student say: “ I don’t understand this at all!” – It is the task of the teacher to diagnose the students knowledge and identify a suitable entry level question on the topic that the student can answer – then follow with a sequence of questions leading the student to discover that in fact they had all the parts of the answer – they just needed some help putting the full idea together. (Socratic Questioning)

7. Note taking is an example of a skill that students must learn to do – If the teacher prepares in advance a partially completed note-taking paper and then pauses at times in the delivery to allow students to fill in the missing information – this is an example of scaffolding – The secret to scaffolding is to slowly remove it when students no longer need it… Remove it bit by bit as students skill level advances. Many tasks in school are too daunting for students to do with proficiency all at once – but when developed step by step with the aid of scaffolding the skill level can grow until no scaffolding is required… (Scaffolding)

8. Every phenomenon – atoms, the solar system, virus infection, oxygen transport in the body … we have learned as concepts. The idea that I have of atomic structure in my conceptual model of an atom. Evidence tells me that there exist small particles of different substances – but I can never see them in detail – all I can know is my conceptual model of what I think atoms are like. Scientific research is about refining our conceptual models as new evidence becomes available. My understanding of the atom when I was in high school has been greatly enhanced by new discoveries and research. It is essential to understand science as a continual refinement of ideas. We must adapt out conceptual model when further evidence tells up that our old model was not complete. ( Conceptual Models)

9. Start each unit with clear learning objectives - Dont try to "cover" everything - Having limited objectives that are learnable in the time you have produces better learning than "throwing the book" at the students. Revisit learning objectives with a series of different activities and at different times in the school year to reinforce the learning. Don’t fool yourself with open notes tests – they do not promote learning. Just because one student in the class can answer a concept question – does not mean that everyone understanding the idea – (but this false assumption guides many classroom questioning sessions.)

10. Use a variety of activities in teaching: group learning, labs, problem solving, guided note taking, reading, writing... make each kid accountable each day ... no one is permitted to sit idly and choose not to work. Frequent tests and quizzes are more helpful than great huge unit exams

We are a Bispecies Family!

Farm dogs have to earn their keep. When I was a boy in NE Kansas, our dog “Tippy” barked whenever a visitor came into the farmyard, he hunted mice and rats around the barn, chased away wild animals that endangered the chickens, and kept the cats on their toes…

Tippy - our old farm dog

For this we fed Tippy table scraps and all the rabbits he could catch for himself. Tippy was given an occasional pet and we removed any ticks he picked up… but that’s about all. He was never allowed in the house because dogs “ just don’t belong in the house”.

When Judy and I were first married we lived in Honolulu (I had a study grant there for a year). Our landlord had a large German Shepherd dog named "Moki". When Moki joined us on walks he carried a large coconut (still in its husk) the entire distance! He slept on our doorstep.

Moki - the coconut carrying dog

At the time when Judy and I got out first dog “Muffin” I must admit that I was still under the belief that dogs were not for inside the house. Muffin got an old mat to sleep on in the garage – and plenty of good pelletized dog food. His main claim to fame was that he was a Houdini dog – He could climb fences and could dig holes to escape from our yard better than any dog I have ever known… Good old raggedy Muffin!

Muffin

We had friends, Dave and Geri Runnels, who lived on a small ranch in the Central Valley… they had no children but a thundering herd of big dogs! The dogs would run loose through the brush and come roaring into the house all at once – such a presence – they came in and shook, scattering dust and sand evenly throughout the house. The house always had that special character of those big sweet dogs coming and going!…

After our son Peter and his wife Marila got married, we visited Marila's parents home sheep ranch in Northern California. They maintained a kennel of working dogs – mostly Australian Shepherds – incredibly smart dogs that more than anything loved herding sheep.

My in-laws sheep working dogs

They also had 3 small housedogs that were free to came and go - in and out of the house. These dogs were treated like part of the family - They would sit quietly by the fire at night, calmly asked for pets and hugs from whoever was present, and were treated with affection. I thought, “Huh! – having dogs in the house really is kind of nice. “

The Jack Russell of my son and his wife, and Roxy ( our dog)

Then when we saw the Jack Russell Terrier that our son and his wife acquired– We decided that it was time for us to get a dog too. We went to an Olive/Sheep farm near Peter’s in-laws and picked out “Roxy”. Now if one dog is good – why not two? – So we got “Willy” for good measure.

They are now part of our life - I take them for long daily walks, then sit with us in the evening as we read or watch television…

Me walking with Willy and Roxy along the Alameda Creek Floor Control Channel

I have taught Willy to howl like a coyote (it’s a great bonding experience for the two of us to howl together). We have a daily tussle on the floor with the three of us play with a rope toy (sounds like a deadly dog fight - but they keep their teeth sheathed).

Willy and Roxy having a tussle

Jack Russell terriers are bred to be great hunters – but our dogs just don’t get the idea of hunting for gophers – too bad! However their sworn enemies are all the squirrels of the world!

Roxy making a show of digging out a gopher (except her barking scares them away)

Well out peace and harmony were broken this week – when a friend called up to ask if one of our dogs were out – I checked – they were both present… She had found a young Jack Russell that appeared to have lost his owners. We said “Oh we’ll take him until we can locate the owner!” Willy is totally bent out of shape by this interloper coming into the house – he says, “I’m the top dog here and you don’t belong”. It is now day 5 – and despite putting up signs and telling everyone we know to help us find the owner – the pup is still with us… And the worst thing he is worming his way into our affection… A sure sign of how serious the problem is - we have named him "Rusty" (for his reddish hue).

Our "visiting" Jack Russell - Here until the owner comes to collect him....

Having three Jack Russell’s underfoot is like having three little dervishes in motion around us… This is not a breed that sits calmly by, passively wagging tails. Our rational side still says that three dogs is too many. The thing that bothers me most is that I have heard that people select a dog to live in our household that matches their personality… if that true I am in big trouble.

To Mama With Love

CHANGE THE WORLD WITH LOVE

This is Judy speaking, today I am borrowing John’s blog site, as I don’t have one of my own.

John and I met in Tanzania an amazing woman called Mama Lucy who has built and runs an English medium elementary school in Arusha, Tanzania. We were also lucky to meet her American supporters whose technical and social media savvy enabled them to raise the money for Mama Lucy’s school, Good Shepherd Elementary. Stacey Monk and Sanjay Patel began Epic Change. This year I have pledged to become a part of To Mama With Love, a chance for you to send an extraordinary Mothers Day tribute to a special woman in your life. We are using the African use of mama..any caring woman who spends her love and effort on others. If you go to the site, and click on the approximate location of California, you should see my message, click on it and find my page to Mama Lucy. Or search for a heart space for Mama Lucy and mine begins, “We love you and your kids”.

I encourage you to check out Mama Lucy and make your own tribute to a woman in your life. I can promise that this is one Mothers Day card that will change lives in Arusha, Tanzania as well as thrill the recipient of your message!! Act right away and help us change the world with love!