doodle by andre: ‘this won’t hurt a bit’
DO WE GARDENERS REALLY THINK THE PLANTS believe us when we say, “This won’t hurt a bit” or, “It’s for your own good”? If deadheading were really for their benefit, wouldn’t they do it themselves? This is not the first time our Andre Jordan has doodled on the subject–though the last was more a stealth mission, under cover of darkness, remember? Let me remind you:
I left allium stalks up…and dried in the fall, were rather beautiful.
Louise
I do selective “deadheading”, mostly on my annuals. Enjoyed the cartoons by Andre. So good to keep our sense of humor and yes, I do think the plants know we love them and just want to enjoy their beauty longer!
Welcome, Carolyn. Agree! And I am selective, too — some things look good with their seedheads on, I think, and also I want some things to sow around for next year. Hope to see you soon again.
FUNNY ! …. THANKS FOR THE DOODLES !
Deadheading is one of those tedious tasks I hate — I’ve been known to do it with the weed eater to speed things along… Now I think I’ll just give it up in honor of Andre and plant love…
Wow, these are great!
I remember my mom used to dead head and it seemed like the right thing to do, now I am torn.
Welcome, Deepersoil. Don’t worry; I’m still deadheading here. Andre just always takes the “other” point of view and gives voices to the plants/animals/all of it to make me laugh (and think).
deadheading is absolute therapy. I love doing it. I crave it at times….
plants love me – i think it’s because i always share my tea with them in the afternoons.
these are great. i felt kinda guilty for deadheading after seeing that first illustration. i have a tendency to speak to my plants as if they can communicate back. now i am really going to be ultra sensitive!
Welcome, Bianca. Andre always makes me smile, and I suspect the plants are OK with the deadheading! :) Hope to see you again soon.
Jenn, too funny!!
Anytime I deadhead, I giggle and am reminded of the story out of San Francisco — An ad was put out asking for volunteer deadheaders to work some public garden spaces, and to meet up with clippers. The gardeners were joined by an army of tie-dyed young hippies, clippers in hand, not really sure why they were called. But evidently all had a great time! here’s the article: https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/20/BAT519NKC0.DTL&feed=rss.homeandgarden
What they don’t know, of course, is deadheading actually causes them a lot more work. They have to put on a whole new set of flowers in order to produce seeds and reproduce.
But, we work awfully hard to keep them alive as well. Perhaps it is fair that they work for a living.
Good point, why don’t they do it themselves? Now I feel a little cruel!
hahaha!… in all seriousness, though… I keep wondering if browsing animals would do some of the deadheading in the wild, some of the pruning. Although I realize that part of the reason to deadhead is to keep the plant from pouring all its energy into making seeds.
That second image just slays me. I like it so much.
And, husbands beware! It’s good to keep them on their toes.
Hi, Jodi. Glad to provide some smiles! Hope to see you again soon.