Weeds by Richard Mabey

This is a brilliant, fascinating examination of the relationships between humans and plants, specifically those plants that we consider to be weeds.

Richard Mabey is one of the UK's greatest nature writers and in this book examines all aspects of the cultural history of weeds:

* how plants move from one place to another and why often a mild mannered plant becomes a menace when transported to a different location with a different ecology.

* how agricultural weeds have co-evolved with crop species

* how many weeds are actually useful as food sources or for other purposes

* how weeds have taken advantage of our mistreatment of the environment - how in fact we have made weeds the problem that they have become.

He also explores the role of weeds in art and literature. 

Although written primarily from a UK perspective, the book also considers weeds around the world. It is beautifully written, thought provoking, full of fascinating facts and a must-read for anyone interested in our relationships with plants.

Weeds by Richard Mabey, published by Profile Books 

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I have another haiku on Daily Haiku, which you can read here. 

and I've only just discovered that my story 'Behind Closed Windows' was published last May on Every Day Fiction! 

As ever, red text contains hyperlinks which take you to other webpages where you can find out more.