Another beautiful “weed” now growing in my back yard is the common buttercup. This variety, sometimes called the creeping buttercup, has stubborn roots and can be the devil to get rid of, but the flowers are certainly delicate and lovely.
Buttercups are generally perennials, but unlike many wildflowers, they are poisonous. Livestock that grazes in a field overrun with buttercups can get especially sick with stomach ailments. But hay, after drying, is safe for them to eat.
The buttercup petals are highly lustrous with a special coloration mechanism. The reflection attracts pollinators that might otherwise overlook the small blooms. Also, a classic children’s game is to hold a buttercup close to the chin. The yellow reflection is supposed to indicate the child’s love for butter – or not. But who doesn’t love butter?
If I were better at lawn maintenance and had thick, green grass, it would crowd out weeds like buttercups and violets – but who would want that? And, I’d have to mow the grass more frequently.
I much prefer buttercups and violets.