As long as you're using native plants, I think it's a wonderful idea. The public needs a lot of help to get past the brainwashing of the last century.

Great idea but the choice of dandelions and thistles might be problematic for other gardens in the area due to wind born seeds in large quantities. Do you have sufficient helpers to dead head?

Hey, I've seen several of these weed seeds available at Richters Herbs. They have just about everything.

While all of the plants people consider "weeds" are wild flowers, some places have ordinances that regulate what some believe are "noxious weeds". Dandelions and thistles are often mentioned by name and may be prohibited.

There is some research that indicates allowing many of these wild flowers (or "weeds) to grow would be very beneficial to many of our pollinators, since apparent the pollen these plants produce has some health benefits that our cultivated flowers do not have.

kimmq is kimmsr

The names dandelion & thistle are too vague to have meaning here. Both native & exotic plants are given each nickname. A native plant belongs in the area, so it can't be a weed.

If called "native wildflower bed," it would be much more educational, and less confusing in that way.

" Dandelion is the common name for any plants of the genus Taraxacum of the flowering plant familyAsteraceae (known as the aster, daisy, or sunflower family). " from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dandelion

Thistle, "any of various prickly composite plants (especially genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum) with often showy heads of mostly tubular flowers;also : any of various other prickly plants" from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thistle

The names Dandelion and thistle are not vague since most people recognize the plants so identified readily. Even something labeled a "native wildflower bed," could be considered a noxious "weed" site by many municipalities and "home owner" cooperatives that require the very boring neatly mowed lawns. Places where the homes are "all made of ticky tacky and all in a row". No individuality allowed.

kimmq is kimmsr

Dandelion refers to plants of many different genera other than just the ones you listed. There are also a vast number of species in the 3 thistle genera you mentioned. One can't know what genus a plant is by either name (let alone species,) and within those various genera are many natives, and many exotics, for any given location. "... any of various other prickly plants." Yes, that's extremely vague, with a side of inconclusiveness, and nonspecificity.

It's not getting through, but I repeat, native wildflowers are not noxious weeds. Native plants can't invade their own territory. I don't understand your objection, Kim, to advising someone to make sure the wildflowers are native.

It was said this would be in a park, so there was no reason to even bring up HOA's or rows of neatly spaced annuals and perfectly mowed monocultures of non-native grass. I've seen many native wildflower gardens in various parks. It's a completely appropriate thing to do, if done well.

I think you'll rue the day if you plant violets! We just dug out a "carpet" of violets in one of our beds.....and are very good about weeding. These were not plants that were multiplying for a few years. It never ceases to amaze me how fast they multiply. Rabbits have nothin' on these guys!