Nature's Gifts Often Come In Misleading Wrapping.

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Let's consider the Dandelion. This wild flower is considered a weed by gardeners and landowners but the Dandelion has many uses, both culinary and as a medicinal herb. The plant's leaves can be eaten cooked, as in soup, or raw, as in salads, and is a great addition to boiled eggs in salad. The raw leaves (younger leaves), are quite bitter to the taste, and similar to mustard greens but they are high in vitamins A, C and iron. They even contain more iron and calcium than spinach, so are extremely good for you. The older leaves are the ones selected for use in cooking, in soups. The flowers are used in the making of Dandelion Wine and Dandelion Flower Jam and the ground and roasted root, as a coffee substitute. Drinking a leaf extract will purify the blood, in anemia, jaundice and the treatment of nervousness. Dandelion Root Coffee is said to stimulate digestive functions and function as a liver tonic if taken before meals, and Dandelion and Burdock is a popular UK soft drink, often found in Health Shops. The milky substance in the stems can be used to repel mosquitoes or rid oneself of warts without damaging the surrounding skin. Last but not least, I'm going back in time again. In fact, my grandchildren still get me to join in with this. After flowering, the Dandelion forms into a ball of fluffy, windborne seeds. These are dispersed by the wind, and are alikened to faeries by many youngsters. Roam among the meadows in late June or early July and you will see these little fluff balls dotted around. This, to many children is the Dandelion or Faerie Clock. Children pluck them from the earth, and ask "What's the time in Faerieland?" Then, they proceed to blow at the ball of seeds, which come away in sections and fly into the air with each blow. After each puff, the child will count, "One o'clock, two o'clock," etc. until all the seed are gone. Whatever time they've reached in blows is considered to be the time in Faerieland. Lovely memories of warm, breezy days of childhood. Of course, the Dandelion is not the only very versatile plant. Dog Roses and Clover are two more which spring to mind. There are several, which we could pass by without even a thought. Are you aware of the uses of wild plants and so-called "weeds"?