Why are flowers called grass or weed? If you think about it, you will find that there are many flowers that are named as 草 in Chinese. For example, a zinnia is called 百日草, a day lily 萱草，a lungwort疗肺草， just to name a few. Well to me, even “ a weed is but an unloved flower." (by Ella Wheeler Wilcox)
Japanese also call some flowers grass or weed. They call philadephia fleabane “Grass of Poverty”, a small daisy like wild flower in the daisy family.
I still remember vividly when a Japanese girl seriously told me not to take the flowers home when she saw me picking up philadephia fleabane during our biking break. She said it was a weed that would bring poverty to people who kept them at home. “But they are pretty flowers!” I said, “why do you call it grass?” Anyway, I did not take a single stem with me that day, but the name of the flower had aroused my interest in flower symbols.
That year, I was officially introduced to the fascinating flower world for the first time ever in my life. The photo of me on the left was taken at a flower arrangement gathering with my very first Ikebana. The gathering was sponsored by one of the many non-profit organizations endeavoring to help international students understand Japanese culture. I have to admit that my true love for flowers and plants started right after the gathering.
More than 20 years later, now an experienced gardener, I won a trophy at the awards dinner of our local horticultural society a couple of years ago. It was awarded for achieving the highest points in all classes at the annual summer flower show. A great honor really!
“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms” (by Zen Shin). Let's all bloom and shine in our own way. Thanks for reading!
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