St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Seriously, how big is your yard? Oh, how do you even control the flowers from wildly growning in undesirable parts?

Seriously, how big is your yard? Oh, how do you even control the flowers from wildly growning in undesirable parts?

 

The Hypericum is self seeded, but I have encouraged it to grow-this photo is today after a little snow, in summer the plant is a glorious mass of yellow flowers.The garden is perhaps only half an acre but surrounded by very old trees-oak , chestnut and beech, so though exposed in the shade even thyme will grow. I consider only Dandelion and chickweed to be an unwelcome guests.

Dandelions and chickweed are both edible. Dandelions need cooked methinks (or turned to wine) and chickweed you just pick up and eat...its very good though it doesn't do much for you medicine wise and I do not know about the nutritive value.

Dandelions and chickweed are both edible. Dandelions need cooked methinks (or turned to wine) and chickweed you just pick up and eat...its very good though it doesn't do much for you medicine wise and I do not know about the nutritive value.

The dandelion is an excellent diuretic and rich in potassium, chickweed was used for rheumatic pain, but is excellent as a dressing for skin problems-it is used here to soothe eczema( in a base cream), and has a high Vit c content.