Friday, August 4, 2023

Stinky Bob

Photo Credit Ursula Gruber Jacobs 2020 


No dear, he is Geranium robertianum,and I love him. Yes, it is true, he smells of stinky arm pits. Sprawls out like a tent city on your lawn. Takes over. But please, see him like I see him. In the cool of the dusk, under sword fern and shade. A plant profile could not illustrate the feel of his spiny kiss, held to nose.
 
 
Breathe
 
Take him in. I took him in. Gave a place of prominence in a pot. Showcased among the chamomile and lemon balm. Saw what he does if you let him. He is not a weed. I am not a statistic. We shine my friend. 
 
 
"Herb-robert was traditionally used as an antiseptic, as well as to treat stomach upset and nosebleeds. Its leaves are edible and used by some to make tea. They have also been used crushed and rubbed on the skin as an insect repellent".
                                            
The Woodland Trust
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk › plants › wild-flowers