It's Dandelion Season Again!
@Ruby3881 (1963)
Canada
April 2, 2016 12:38pm CST
I'm not sure just when it is I really feel in love with dandelions. It may be when I ran through fields of yellow wildflowers as a child, or when I picked that first bouquet of dandelions to give to Mom. It may be when I had my first taste of homemade dandelion wine - heavenly! Or maybe it was the first time that I had a yard of my own that was simply overgrown with them in springtime, and I spent hours out roaming barefoot among the bees and ladybugs, harvesting the buttery blossoms.
Do you spray your dandelions, or would you rather eat them?
There are so many uses for this most vilified of weeds. Pretty much every part of the plant can be used for food or medicine, from the root that is roasted and ground into a coffee substitute, to those sunny yellow petals that can be used in baking, winemaking, or to infuse a lovely syrup or honey.
At one point, I even encountered a citizen science project that involved recording the arrival of dandelions in one's immediate surroundings. I believe it had something to do with climate change, and checking the dates for early spring weather.
I'll bet you had no idea this humble little flower had so many uses!
ETA: image credit
[Image: Esther Grosjean (aka Estellina)/Pixabay; CC0]
7 people like this
8 responses
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
2 Apr 16
Just peeked out and saw all of three dandelions, but it is a bit early in the season. I hope it doesn't turn out like the last spring when there were hardly any dandelions at all. I wonder how well they do growing in doors.
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
2 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 I feel a growing dandelions experiment coming on.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
@cupkitties I will be most eager to hear what comes of it. Do post the results!
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
Hmm, I don't know if I've ever heard of anyone growing dandelions indoors. Maybe in a container outside, though?
@carebear29 (32002)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
2 Apr 16
If the snow would just go away, it would be fine.
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (32002)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
2 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 Its been on and off for a few days but almost an inch and its trying to melt with the sun lol
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
@carebear29 I love to watch the snow melt in the sun. It's one of the few times that snow is really pleasant!
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
3 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 I have loved Dandelion flowers always.But have never eaten either the leaves or the flowers.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
4 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 Yes,I am thinking about trying them.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
It sounds very odd, I know. But they now sell the greens right next to the lettuce and kale in many markets 
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
3 Apr 16
Janet, are there other weeds that you will eat? Or perhaps odd types of meat or fish? My father absolutely loves escargot smothered in garlic butter, for example. I think they're tough and too small to be worth it, a definite waste of garlic butter. My youngest loves frogs legs that have been battered and deep fried. Those at least compare with chicken wings, but still I'd rather have a bigger piece of meat or poultry!
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
Last year I dug up dandelion roots, washed them, dried them in the sun and chopped them up for dandelion tea. Tasted just like the expensive dandelion root tea that I got from the health food store. Washing those roots was a lot of work!
I used the blossoms for tea as well. I use the leaves to sautee with other greens. Can't quite get to like them in salad!
But you are ahead of us. I have not seen a dandelion yet, even though the snow is long gone
