Taraxacum offinale

I spent most of my life living out in the country. Every spring the lawn would be carpeted with beautiful yellow flowers. When the flowers were gone, the blow ball would shoot up and the dainty little parachute seeds would float off somewhere to start a new plant. As a boy I loved to blow the seeds off the blow ball. Even as a man, when I walked across the lawn, I had to stoop and give the little dandelion an assist in its propagation. My neighbors were not thrilled about this.

Later the dandelion gave some green to a parched, brown lawn. I always figured if it's green, it's lawn. Besides, what point is there in trying to get rid of dandelions when you live out in the country. More will come next year. Did you know that the dandelion dies anyway about the middle of the summer. It's roots do not survive until the next season. They are only propagated by their seeds.

The dandelion is also a useful plant. Have you ever eaten "poor man's oysters? (dandelion flowers, breaded, and deep fried)" Did you ever eat a dandelion salad with hot bacon dressing? How about a glass of dandelion wine? Mmm--Delicious!!!

If you are interested in recipes you can find them at the following web site: http://www.mountain-breeze.com/kitchen/dandelions/index.html

I found a cute little poem by Hilda Conkling about the dandelion on Project Gutenburg: http://promo.net/pg/

Little soldier with the golden helmet,
O What are you guarding on my lawn?
You with your green gun
And your yellow beard;
Why do you stand so stiff?
There is only the grass to fight!