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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / D is for Dandelion #AtoZChallenge

D is for Dandelion #AtoZChallenge

April 4, 2015 by admin

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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Henry and I cutting up dandelion roots for ice cream.
Henry and I cutting up dandelion roots for ice cream.

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?

Have fruit trees? Grow dandelions underneath! They fix nitrogen in the soil.
Have fruit trees? Grow dandelions underneath! They fix nitrogen in the soil.

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.

Maybe fried dandelion flowers aren't the most healthy way to eat them, but they're tasty!
Maybe fried dandelion flowers aren’t the most healthy way to eat them, but they’re tasty!
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gwynnrogers
gwynnrogers
7 years ago

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.

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  gwynnrogers

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!

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gwynnrogers
gwynnrogers
7 years ago
Reply to  admin

Have fun visiting and have a Happy Easter.

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cjswriting
cjswriting
7 years ago

I like your comparison to them as the uncool kids worth getting to know.

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  cjswriting

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.

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vrein11
vrein11
7 years ago

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

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  vrein11

It’s really tasty! I didn’t think I would like it, as dandelion root can be bitter, but it’s quite good.

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Cortney Pearson
Cortney Pearson
7 years ago

I didn’t realize they had a good purpose, lol! Good to know!

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  Cortney Pearson

Great, I did a service to these wonderful plants! Yay! Thanks for stopping by.

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AJ Lauer (@ayjaylauer)
AJ Lauer (@ayjaylauer)
7 years ago

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

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  AJ Lauer (@ayjaylauer)

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.

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Liz A.
Liz A.
7 years ago

The uncool were always the best. So why wouldn’t that be true of plants as well?

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Nick Wilford
Nick Wilford
7 years ago

Never knew they had so many uses. And best of all, they’re free!

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  Nick Wilford

Free is good! In fact, there are books on many different weeds that we can harvest from our yards that are edible.

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Barbara In Caneyhead
Barbara In Caneyhead
7 years ago

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

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  Barbara In Caneyhead

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.

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Susan Gourley
Susan Gourley
7 years ago

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.

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  Susan Gourley

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.

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Michelle Wallace
Michelle Wallace
7 years ago

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!

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  Michelle Wallace

Well, I hope he loves you!! Thanks for stopping by.

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shawn
shawn
7 years ago

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.

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admin
Author
admin
7 years ago
Reply to  shawn

This is great info! Thanks for sharing. I agree, this is a lot of fun, and I really like your blog.

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