"The miracles of nature do not seem miracles because they are so common.
If no one had ever seen a flower,
even a dandelion would be the most startling event in the world."
Anonymous
My great grandfather started a greenhouse in Lancaster county called "Goods".
He loved plants and he knew how to garden.
He had a huge truck patch and took plants and produce to market by horse and buggy.
My mom said she picked flowers to make bouquets
to take to market along with all the produce.
In the winter before they had refrigerator cars to transport produce from the warmer states,
greens in the colder areas were next to impossible to come by.
My great grandpa grew dandelion in a greenhouse to take to market during the winter,
it was the only fresh greens around.
My great uncle told me that they sold it by the bag full for a quarter a bag.
They also forced rhubarb to grow and sold that.
As I listened to the stories of how hard they worked to make money during the depression
and how dandelion was their cash crop in the winter I was so amazed,
dandelion was a real blessing to them.
Comments (54)
When My Autistic nephew sees one in the yard he runs out barefoot to grab it.
I feel bad we cut the grass.
It's a dandelion invasion out there!
purdddy
I agree! lovely insight and photos.......
My mother was terribly fond of dandelions, and not falling far from the tree, I've found much enjoyment looking at them and blowing away their seeds as well. Nice pics.
So true. Is the quote yours?
When I had grass I was the only one on the block who refused to spray the dandelions. It drove my neighbors crazy. I used greens and blossoms in salad and once tried my hand at dandelion wine. It was unpalatable.
@jamekablue - We eat the greens too,every year my mom made us pick itI think it is terribly bitter but I ate it,it is a great source of vitamin A says my doctor.
Wonderful shots of the dandelion, Beth. I've often wondered if you could eat ordinary garden-variety dandelions, or if they're specially raised for salad greens. Now I'll have to try it!
Pretty. I was stunned when, suddenly, all the grass here turned green and then, just as quickly, millions of dandelions sprang up. Maybe I was just never as observant in previous years. The trees took their sweet time with blooming/budding, though.
pretty and neat <3 (: (:
To this day, almost exactly two years after I graduated college and became an ADULT(tm),
The first dandelions of spring are still woven into headbands and necklaces for an afternoon, I still wish on dandelions gone to seed, and I still hold buttercups under people's chins to see if they're boy crazy.
A dandelion is a miracle. Also, CLICK HERE.
My brother asserts that his 2 year old daughter thinks that dandelions are "pretty flowers", and thus he is an awesome father, not a lazy lawn keeper.
I really like that! I liked blowing on it and making a wish when I was a kid. Great story!
Beautiful.
wow crazy!!
Love the movement in these shots. The dandelion holds such promise, as the seeds take air, destined to land, here, there, springing forth even more promises and wishes.
I love dandelions! The greens often come in my spring mix, and I'm always happy to see them there. An infusion of the fresh leaves is incredibly nourishing, too! And a friend of mine recently made dandelion honey (which is, as far as I can tell, a strong infusion made with the flower tops, then boiled down with sugar to create a very sweet, nourishing syrup).
They're so tenacious, too, growing anywhere the way they do.
you know i am diggin on the "small details" of the macro ... love this!
amazing to know it could be a cash crop.
my great grandmother would go to people's yards and pick lamb's quarters all the time. we took to calling them granny weeds.
@windupherskirt - It's hard to hold it with one hand and get a photo with the other and have it clear.
Dandelion is a real treat when you get the fresh spring greens,..wilt them up in a bit of bacon grease,..put a bit of vinegar...(to taste,)...in the mess of greens. Then one tops the greens with a hard boiled egg or two and at least a half cup or so of crumbled up bacon bits!!
Oooooooooh yum!!
@Stanelle - That is exactly how we make it!
@seedsower - haha ... and not get your thumb in the foto!! well done B!
@Stanelle -
haha my oma insisted they were good to eat also. Sounds good.
wonderful story, Beth
It seems to me that the dandelions are especially large and numerous this year. My canary loves them.
to see the seeds blow off in a whimsical stream. ahhh.
Dandelions used to be the highlight of my outdoor experiences. Your pictures are beautiful.
To think you see commercials all the time of people spraying weed control on them when less than a century ago they were so precious!
That was beautiful!
Weeds are plants that no one wants. Thus the dandelion when wanted is no longer a weed!! My mother ate (and probably still does) dandelion greens in the summer. They are tenacious plants and will grow almost anywhere!
There once was an old woman, all dressed in black from head covering to shoe tops. She lived in a hut made of sticks in the middle of an empty field that we passed by everyday on our way to and from school. She didn't speak English and we kids thought her a witch. She was called "Crazy Mary". She picked dandelions where ever she found them and made them into wine.
amazing what people did to survive during the depression. Your grandpa was quite ingenious!
Dandelion greens are tasty. I've been eating them for a long time.
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Fabulous photos! Thank you for sharing your story. I love it. Both of my grandfathers were farmers. I remember going to one of my grandpa's farm each summer. He would let me pick my own watermelon and eat only the heart from it. Then I would get another one and another one until I could eat no more. I still love making necklaces and crowns from clover flowers.
I go out into the woods an dpick the big, tender dandilion greens for my guinea pigs and they love them.
Thank you for sharing such a great memory Beth.
I had never seen a dandelion until I came to this country, and was so amazed at the beauty of the "yellow daisies" all over every one's yards. I had written about them to my father who was an avid gardener.
that's so, so interesting!
my grandfather HATED dandelions. with a passion. so great a passion that it was a family joke. now we have a few dandelions... i leave them alone and allow them to remind me of my papa.
Two of the things I look forward to in spring are the first evening the peepers sing, and the fields filled with bright yellow dandelions. Doesn't get any better. Great story, Beth. Thanks for sharing it. MUAH.
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That is an amazing story. I've never eaten dandelion greens though I knew you could. Mostly I think dandelions are magical and wish inducing
. Cool pics. peace always
Everything is given us for a purpose. I would eat them in a northern winter, with scant other vegetation.
I have one on my site since it reminded me of Carl Sagan.
Over the years I have owned a few replica watch and Tudor's, a Tudor been a less expensive range of watches made by Rolex but under the Tudor brand name. Currently I have this Submariner, a vintage Oysterdate Precision and also a Tudor from the 60's.
Over the years I have owned a few replica watch and Tudor's, a Tudor been a less expensive range of watches made by Rolex but under the Tudor brand name. Currently I have this Submariner, a vintage Oysterdate Precision and also a Tudor from the 60's.
I tried dandelions greens once as a kid and did not like them but several older people used to eat them all the time. We had lots in our yard because we couldn't afford even the bag system you buy yourself to do the lawn last year or this year.
Why do I remember that dandelions would stain the skin of your hands if you handled them too much? Do they all do that - or just the ones I remember?
I think dandelions are pretty! They only get a bad reputation because they grow in people's nice green grass so easily. Then again, I think lots of wildflowers and "weeds" are pretty. I love the pics.
I posted once on Xanga , a long time ago , an entry to the glory of Dandelion.
I agree with you,Beth
Love
Michel
It's odd...I always hear people talk about dandelion greens, but the dandelions I see here (Canada) never have any greens. Just stem and flower. Hmmm.
@Persiankitty - The greens come before the flowers and the stems,once it flowers they are very bitter.
What a nice post, very interesting. I've never tried eating dandelions but I should try it my mother spoke of those times when greens were hunted and found in early spring and how good they were after a winter with little green healthy food available.
@Lucy_or_Ethel - If you pick them find the smaller tender ones,there are still lots of older folks here on the side of the road and in the meadows looking for it every spring, I never tire of watching them ,it is harder than you think to stoop that low to see and snip them.