Dandelion
Yes, it’s that time of year when dandelions march across our yard like an invading army. They try to soften their invasion by producing bright cheery blooms, but later they deal the final blow and produce millions of seeds.
But you know, I’ve never minded dandelions.
Their bright yellow flowers are a welcome sight after a long brown winter,
and who of us as a child didn’t blow their seeds onto the wind.
Did you know…….
- Dandelions are native to Eurasia and North America.
- Each flower is actually a collection of small flowers in one head.
- The seeds are produced without pollenation resulting in baby dandelions that are genetically identical to the parent plant.
- The entire plant is edible: flowers, leaves and root.
- The flowers are open during the day and close up shop at night.
- The name dandelion is from the French dent de lion, or “lion’s tooth” referring to the points on the leaves.
- The flowers are used to make dandelion wine. The root can be roasted and ground and then brewed to make dandelion coffee. The leaves are good sources of vitamin A, C, and K, and potassium, calcium, iron and manganese.
- They are an important source of nectar and pollen for bees early in the spring when little else is blooming.
Not to mention the fact that they are quite pretty. Today I belly flopped onto our lawn and rested my chin among the dandelions to take these pictures. They’re even prettier from that angle.
I recommend you do the same, nevermind what the neighbors think. They talk about you anyway and you might as well give them something new to talk about.
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You take the best pictures. I wish I had a nicer camera to take a picture of one of my bees working a flower. It is true, dandelions are important to bees because they are one of the first things that blooms in the spring. Bees die so easily in the spring due to a lack of food after using up their winter stores.
No new news on Paxton
Take care and God Bless.
Hi Mary,
I didn’t realize that dandelions were so important to bees until I did this post. Who knew.
Blessings,
Suzanne
I like dandelions! Like you say, they are colorful and cheerful when it’s still cold and dull outside. They are like little suns in the grass
Oh, I love your last sentence in this post!!
And you know, just the other day, I almost bent over to pick a dandelion and blow away the seeds. I just may do that soon!
Hi Dianna,
Do blow the dandelion seeds away …. the child is all of us waits each year to do this. 🙂
I loved your post. It takes me back to my childhood of flopping on the grass and looking closely at all sorts of flowers and grasses. These days my youngest son brings me bouquets of dandelions and I consider them priceless!
Thank you Monica,
I did too. I also watched anthills. They lead very busy lives the little overachievers. 🙂
O’ DANDELION
O’ Dandelion, yellow as gold, what do you do all day?
“I just wait here in the tall, green grass, ’till the children come to play.”
O’ Dandelion, yellow as gold, what do you do all night?
“I wait and wait, while the cool dew falls, and my hair grows long and white.”
And what do you do when your hair grows white, and the children come to play?
“They take me in their dimpled hands, and blow my hair away!”
– by Marlys Swinger
Your post reminded me of this poem that my Mother loved.
Awwww…..what a lovely poem. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks Dianne.
I love dandelions! My grandmother used to eat dandelion greens in the early spring. She also used to make fried “clams” out of unopened dandelion flowers for family parties. On the night before the party, she’d pick the unopened flowers and soak them in clam juice over night. Right before the party, she’d bread and fry them. Believe it or not, they really taste like fried clams!
Thanks for your pics…love them! 🙂
Wow, I’d never heard of your grandmother’s “fried clams”. I’ve heard of frying them, but not the soaking in clam juice beforehand. What a neat idea.
Thanks for sharing Jen.
Haha, beautiful little flowers, but please don’t send any of the seeds my way!
Sorry Pam, they’re blowing around as I type and I have no control over them. 🙂
Great photos! You always have the best photos ever!
Thank you Peggy!
Beautiful pictures! Where we are now living, we have a lawn to keep up. I much prefer the “naturalized” look of dandelions and other flowers that invade a lawn.
Me too Julie. Thank you.
I’m with you. I don’t mind the dandelions at all. Somehow Hubby sees them as an insult to his manhood – “Must kill!” 🙂
Hi Tami,
While we don’t kill them, I’ve heard they aren’t easy to get rid of tricky little devils. 🙂
My co-workers and I were just talking about dandelions a few days ago. They see them as weeds. I see them as pretty little golden flowers. I have always loved dandelions and your pictures are outstanding. Thanks for posting them.
It all depends on your point of view doesn’t it Kathy? One man’s weed, is another man’s treasure.
Ha ha ha! We seem to love them or hates them. I was groaning over several that have a permanent home in our side yard. But you are right I have always liked them as flowers and did pick them as a kid. Thank you for the memories and ladies thank you for the insight into poems and recipes for our favorite weed!!
My friend’s husband paid their daughter .05 per plant to dig dandelions out of the grass. He underestimated how much tenacity and love of money one 8-years-old girl can have and ended up owing her a little over $43.
We just let ours grow!
When we were kids, we would hold them under someone’s chin to see if they turned yellow. If they did,
we knew they liked butter.
I harvest the blossoms and make a wonderful jelly out of dandelions!!! It is a beautiful golden yellow and tastes similar to honey. It is great on biscuits.
Did you know that Dandelions were thought to be one of the bitter herbs talked about in the Bible!!
Wow, I’ll bet your jelly is a beautiful color. How neat Creations by Dina.
My grandfather made dandelion wine but I don’t recall ever tasting any. Never thought about coffee. My husband, too, finds them an affront to his gardening skills. I’m going to tell him about the coffee perhaps it will change his point of view.
Suzanne…I like dandelions too! They have never bothered me and I’m with you..they ARE a welcome sight after a long winter. I think the bright yellow color is so cheery..they conjure up memories of summers past. Nothin’ wrong with the dandelion!! I have never ate a dandelion, but once had a neighbor who picked them from her yard along with their leaves and ate them in her salad. I really want to try it…but I think I’m scared! I know they are edible…but…I just can’t bring myself to do it!
Me neither Bonnie.
I know it’s all edible, but I’ve not tried them. I once had a friend who deep fat fried the flowers and I did eat those.