The A to Z Blogging Challenge continues! If you’re visiting here from your blog, just know I will be over to yours as soon as I can. I’m having so much fun enjoying what others are writing! It’s been a pleasure so far.
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I’ve always had a soft spot for the underdog. Sometimes I was one myself. I wasn’t one of the cool kids in school, and often I hung out with people at the bottom of our little social hierarchy. That’s where I discovered that some of the uncoolest people are the nicest.
I’ve always loved dandelions. Did you ever blow on that puffball of seeds when you were little? It was so much fun, until you got into trouble for spreading this invasive weed around the yard.
A lot of money goes into dandelion eradication, usually with powerful chemicals. God forbid we not have a pristine lawn.
After I got hooked on gardening, I started learning more about herbs, about growing them and turning them into food or medicine. That’s when I learned that herbalists are besotted with dandelions.
Say what?
Turns out dandelion greens, especially in the springtime when they are young and new, are powerful detoxifiers. For more information on the many medicinal uses, click here. The roots can be dried and made into a tea or used as a flavoring for ice cream! The flowers? Fry ’em up or use them to make cookies. And, of course, there is dandelion wine.
Old habits die hard, and sometimes I still dig up some of them…but more and more, I’m learning to leave them alone. They’re the uncool kid that’s really worth getting to know.
Yes, dandelions can be good and bad for you, depending on your system. Great post.
Do you happen to know Camille Speck? I may be coming up to her sweater show on the 11th. It would be fun meeting.
No, I don’t know Camille, not yet. We are leaving tomorrow to visit my parents and stepdaughter, and I won’t be back until the 20th…so next time, definitely!
Have fun visiting and have a Happy Easter.
I like your comparison to them as the uncool kids worth getting to know.
Thanks! It just makes sense to me, that people spend so much time trying to get rid of them when they have so much to offer.
Dandelion ice cream??? Really?? I have heard many things about dandelion but I never heard of using it for ice cream. I might have to look that up, since we have a lot of dandelions in our yard! Vicki
It’s really tasty! I didn’t think I would like it, as dandelion root can be bitter, but it’s quite good.
I didn’t realize they had a good purpose, lol! Good to know!
Great, I did a service to these wonderful plants! Yay! Thanks for stopping by.
Hmm. I’ve never tried to eat a dandelion. I’ve heard that they’re edible, of course, but never tried it. Also, just learned that clovers are edible and good for you! We’re growing some and will be experimenting in a couple weeks, I think! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
~AJ Lauer
an A-Z Cohost
@ayjaylauer on Twitter
They’re best in the early part of spring (like now), because the leaves are tender and not so bitter. As they get more bitter they’re more medicinal, but I like them now. They can be put in a raw salad or cooked.
The uncool were always the best. So why wouldn’t that be true of plants as well?
Never knew they had so many uses. And best of all, they’re free!
Free is good! In fact, there are books on many different weeds that we can harvest from our yards that are edible.
I’ve never ate a dandelion. They do make awesome play things for kids and those who are kids at heart!
Life & Faith in Caneyhead
I am Ensign B ~ One of Tremp’s Troops with the
A to Z Challenge
Yes, sometimes I have to be reminded to be a kid at heart! I can be a bit too serious at times. I still get excited when I see the dandelion seedheads, though.
Never heard of the fried but I’ve always wanted to taste dandelion wine. I’ve heard that dandelion greens are good for you but I still don’t like them invading my yard.
I don’t care much for dandelion wine…at least the stuff I tried…it was too sweet for my tastes. The greens are tasty, though, this time of year.
Dandelions remind me of that childhood game – he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not… 🙂
…and by the way, I’m also a champion of the underdog!
Well, I hope he loves you!! Thanks for stopping by.
I remember picking dandelions for my dad to make wine. The first batch he made was hideously bitter. That’s when we realized that when they say make sure you remove all the stem, they really mean ALL the stem. Thanks for an interesting A-to-Z article. This is my first year to participate and it’s been a blast so far. Drop by and leave a thought or two at http://downhomethoughts.com when you get the chance.
This is great info! Thanks for sharing. I agree, this is a lot of fun, and I really like your blog.