We have a flower garden, if it can be called that, with weeds growing in it.

By the way, speaking of weeds, what is the best way of getting rid of weeds on a more permanent scale?

Legislation to outlaw the movement of specified noxious weeds has been enacted by the U.S. federal government, most states and numerous counties. Under the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 , the Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to prohibit the importation and interstate transportation and sale of species that the Secretary has deemed noxious through actions such as inspection and quarantine. The Secretary is allowed to seize, treat, destroy and dispose of items that have been contaminated with a noxious weed.

Weed police to combat SA 'aliens' Similar laws also exist in many other countries in all parts of the world. In at least one country, the jacaranda tree has become the subject of state control for political reasons. Recently, the local government of Pretoria has sent out weed inspectors to impose $900 fines on those who fail to rip out jacaranda seedlings, although large adult trees will be allowed to remain. Pretoria is a squat, uniform city with streets on a grid pattern, but it is spectacularly beautiful in spring when the streets are purple with petals from jacaranda trees. It is known as the "city of jacarandas," but that is another aspect that may eventually be expunged, because the trees are not a native African species. The government is also planning to change the name of Pretoria to a more pre-colonial name. Are there any politically incorrect trees in your town? Poetry and Inspiration to Groom Your Garden

Outlaw weeds?

What do they look like?

What about the yellow blossomed dandelion? Not certain of spelling.

Isn't it also considered to be a weed?

Dandelion greens before they blossom are good for eating.

I have eaten some, however, I am not as crazy about them as my wife is.

Once they have blossomed, for some strange reason, the dandelion greens are then no longer good for eating, so I have been told.

The Curse on All Creation.--All nature is confused; for God forbade the earth to carry out the purpose He had originally designed for it. Let there be no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord. The curse of God is upon all creation. Every year it makes itself more decidedly felt (MS 76a, 1901). {1BC 1085.5}

The first curse was pronounced upon the posterity of Adam and upon the earth, because of disobedience. The second curse came upon the ground after Cain slew his brother Abel. The third most dreadful curse from God, came upon the earth at the Flood (4SG 121). {1BC 1085.6}

The land has felt the curse, more and more heavily. Before the Flood, the first leaf which fell, and was discovered upon the ground, caused those who feared God great sorrow. They mourned over it as we mourn over the loss of a dead friend. In the decaying leaf they could see an evidence of the curse, and of the decay of nature (Ibid., 155). {1BC 1085.7}

(Rom. 8:22).--The sin of man has brought the sure result,--decay, deformity, and death. Today the whole world is tainted, corrupted, stricken with mortal disease. The earth groaneth under the continual transgression of the inhabitants thereof (Letter 22, Feb. 13, 1900). {1BC 1085.8}

The Lord's curse is upon the earth, upon man, upon beast, upon the fish in the sea, and as transgression becomes almost universal the curse will be permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression (Letter 59, 1898). {1BC 1085.9}

Tokens of God's Continued Love.--After the transgression of Adam, God might have destroyed every opening bud and blooming flower, or He might have taken away their fragrance, so grateful to the senses. In the earth seared and marred by the curse, in the briers, the thistles, the thorns, the tares, we may read the law of condemnation; but in the delicate color and perfume of the flowers, we may learn that God still loves us, that His mercy is not wholly withdrawn from the earth (RH Nov. 8, 1898). {1BC 1085.10}

God said to Adam, and to all the descendants of Adam, In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread; for from henceforth the earth must be worked under the drawback of transgression. Thorns and briars shall it produce (MS 84, 1897).
1086 {1BC 1085.11}

There is no place upon earth where the track of the serpent is not seen and his venomous sting felt. The whole earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof. The curse is increasing as transgression increases (Letter 22, Feb. 13, 1900). {1BC 1086.1}

Amalgamation Brought Noxious Plants.--Not one noxious plant was placed in the Lord's great garden, but after Adam and Eve sinned, poisonous herbs sprang up. In the parable of the sower the question was asked the Master, "Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? how then hath it tares?" The Master answered, "An enemy hath done this." All tares are sown by the evil one. Every noxious herb is of his sowing, and by his ingenious methods of amalgamation he has corrupted the earth with tares (MS 65, 1899) [published in F. D. Nichol, Ellen G. White and Her Critics]. {1BC 1086.2}

Why do we have weeds, thistles, and thorns?

"Not one noxious plant was placed in the Lord's great garden, but after Adam and Eve sinned, poisonous herbs sprang up."

Ellen gives some more insight:

A Botanical Approach to the Treatment of Cancer The greens with a bitter flavor such as dandelion and chicory more powerfully stimulate detoxification, especially from the liver. They are also potassium rich foods. They can be served steamed or lightly sautéed with a little olive or sesame oil.

Dandelion (Herba Taraxaci or Chinese, Pu Gong Ying) The whole herb is used. It Clears heat, is sweet, bitter, mild and cold with no toxicity. It is especially effective for curing female breast abscess. It goes to the Liver and Spleen. It contains taraxasterol, choline, inulin and pectin.

Interestingly Chang Minyi states that "the drug (herb) has been processed into an extract or pills and is widely used for treating various sorts of cancer." This statement seems very unsubstantiated by my experience.

The hot water extract inhibits sarcoma-180 in mice with an effective rate of 43.5%, whereas the hot water extract has no effect. The hot water extract contains a polyose substance that is anti-carcinogenic and promotes immunity.

According to Elucidation of the Materia Medica, The drug cures female breast cancer because breast abscess is distributed to the Liver channel which dominates all the body activities during menstruation." This seems to suggest that because dandelion activates liver function, it helps the liver neutralize estrogen which can activate certain cancer cells.