I know this is probably not going to get me anywhere, but I don't know what else to do other than to check out a book in the library on weeds, but the library's closed today.

Here's the problem. There is a weed that grows in the fields and pastures all around Dinwiddie. I have never seen this weed flower, so, when it does, it must have the least significant flowers in the universe.

My grandmother called it "Devil's Shoelaces," but she was wrong. I've goggled that name, have pulled up photographs, and the weed I have in mind definitely isn't Devil's Shoelaces. That's a altogether different-looking kind of weed.

Then I went up to B.T. Hargrave's Feed and Grain Store, asked about my weed, and one of the men there confidently said, "It's called 'Mare's Tail,' but sometimes is called 'Dog Fennel.'"

Oh, I was a happy soul! Finally a name for this weed, that I really think is a very pretty weed.

So, last night I googled both Mare's Tail and Dog Fennel (or dogfennel, of which there are many varieties), and neither is my weed. Most definitely not.

And I just finished unsuccessfully googling my weed this way:

[weed Virginia 'feathery leaves']

Too many hits. And nothing I clicked on was helpful. I needed pictures.

Now here's a description of the weed and maybe, just maybe, somebody out there will know this weed that grows in Virginia and probably in lots of other places, too:

It grows on a single stalk that reaches about 3' high.

Usually you see two, three, four, five, six, maybe seven of these single stalks rising from about the same location. I don't think I've ever just seen one stalk by itself.

From the stalk sprout long, very, very soft, feathery-like "leaves." They point slightly upward, rather than downward, from the stalk.

If you run your hand up the length of the weed, you feel a very surprising softness--it feels very much like feather.

It's not mare's tail, it's not any kind of dogfunnel--it looks more like a green feather with the little featherets unattached.

Oh, and it is lightly and sweetly aromatic.

Maybe somebody here knows what it is or knows how I might better google my information...

Best regards,
WW

weedsworth,

just for the heck of it, try googling "feathery weeds", only seven (7) hits....

(if you leave out the "s you get ~3700)

Dear WW: try browsing this URL:http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/rightsid.htm

Here ya go, WW...just scroll down and click through the weed images until you find it. (I found this site by Googling "Virginia Weeds>Images"...'course, they're not all Virginia weeds):

http://www.greensmiths.com/weeds.htm

weed problem

Sorry to hear that...never been a pothead, myself.

Wow, Sweet WO'N, what a great site! Thank you! I'm bookmarking that one.

WW, what his site calls Trumpetcreeper (a name I have never heard, incidentally, though I have heard it referred to as trumpet vine) is what my mother called Devil's Shoestrings. Is it the same plant that your grandmother called Devil's Shoelaces?

Vaseygrass seems to fit your description. I do hope that's not it. What an uninspiring name!

weed problem

I had a friend used to live in the posh part of town. He never had the problems his neighbors did with dandelions growing in the front yard. When they grew in his front yard he called them daisies.

Dear Jackie,

My grandmother called the feathery weed "Devil's Shoelaces"--but she was incorrect.

Trumpet vine grows in abundance around here. You have to be careful with it, however, because you may have an allergic reaction to it. Some people do. I like its deep orange blossoms.

I still haven't checked out W'on's site. Need to do that, but I'm late this morning. Will let you know about that Vaseygrass later--I like the name. It has vase inside it, which is kind of nice. But I sure as heck wish my weed had been Mare's Tails, which is such a sweet name.

I finally checked out all the weeds on the site W'on provided. Every single photo! Thanks, W'on. Some pretty cool names there.

But still: I can't find my weed. None of those were plume-like enough--not even close. A green plume is what it looked like--about two to three feet high.

Thanks for the suggestions, however, even though I'm still weedless.

WW

But still: I can't find my weed...Thanks for the suggestions, however, even though I'm still weedless.

Well, you'll have to try another dealer. You're certainly looking for some strange herb!

You're certainly looking for some strange herb!
Some Davids are pretty strange, too...

Some Davids are pretty strange, too...

Yes we (we) are (are)!

Some Davids are pretty strange, too...

*rimshot*

Meanwhile.
Hey, WW: why don't you call it a native plant instead of a weed and then its name may pop out at you?

native plant

Sides, weed has such negative connotations. I prefer self-reliant flora.