Environment

Dandelion Explosion

by Beaulieu | April 24, 2010 at 02:12 am

523 views | 9 Recommendations | 5 comments

There is an amazing profusion of dandelions in the UK right now.

Unlike most conventional gardeners, I actually like them; their colour, meadow scent and of course, their leaves are highly nutritional.

I also enjoy them for their strong colours as you can see in the photo. I made this 'earth mandala' on the lawn, the wind naturally blowing them away as a sign of impermanence of life. The more dandelions I have, the more I can do. And I get to make salads out of them, why waste them?

Dandelions are very important to butterflies and the dwindling population of bees.

As more and more land is concreted over, we won't see so many all in one go except in corners of urban scrub.

I think the real weeds are plants that are not even native to this country, the dandelion is native to Eurasia and North America.

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Jack Green Dublin. (not verified)

at 10:23 on April 24th, 2010

I have Tonnes of them in my front Garden in Dublin.I am afraid it is neglected ,I tend to worry about the back Garden more and growing Vegetables.I just find them a nuisance and when the white Seeds come on them they are Lethal to your Garden they just Blow away like little Parachutes and end up Colonising the Garden with more Weeds. The White Cottony Seeds we call them Jinny Joes and Children Love Blowing them around the Streets. I have a few Large Bumble Bees Flying around the Garden.

Beaulieu

at 11:26 on April 24th, 2010

One day you may grow to love them!

YankeeJim

at 11:46 on April 24th, 2010

Have a nice salad

anarkissed

at 10:47 on April 24th, 2010

The dandelion is NOT native to North America, it was brought over as a salad green from europe! However, it's a good plant all the same, rich in nutrients,hardy enough to withstand our abuse, and ready to be there for us when we've done so much damage as to have few food plants left, if that happens. Rabbits love them, the flowers make fine wine, the roots are a good replacement for coffee in a pinch, and the leaves are a good replacement for endive (quite bitter). If eating the leaves, be sure to pick only young dandelion before it's flowered or the taste will be too strong and bitter. Also be sure you pick these from clean areas as they absorb pollutants well and so growing near roadways and such will be less healthful to eat. (yet another bonus, they clean the air a bit).

I never get any decent dandelions in my yard because I harvest them so fast.

Beaulieu

at 11:37 on April 24th, 2010

On wikipedia it said they were native from North America:

They are native to Eurasia and North America.

most of the Taraxacum species are indigenous to Eurasia; two are indigenous to America.]

I didn't know you can make coffee from dandelion roots, that's a new one to me.

True, it won't make sense to eat dandelion leaves that grow by the roadsides, I think they would kill you! I am really impressed that they can clean the air too.