Language is everything. Language shapes our thoughts, feelings and how we see the world around us. The words we use are so powerful that they can even shape the landscape.

Recently I was listening to a friend complaining vehemently. He kept talking about how these “invasive” plants were taking over his yard, and no matter what he tried, the plants kept coming back.

Based on my friend's stress, I assumed they were dealing with some of Tallahassee's typical problem plants like skunkvine or nandina. After listening a bit more, I had to ask what species they were dealing with. They replied, “Oh, you know, some invasive species like morning glory, Virginia creeper, and cherry laurel.”