Thursday, July 8, 2010

Dandelions! or why I love them


As the season for making dandelion concoctions ends, I wanted to lament about the ever-present yet ill-loved Dandelion.

Miss Helen Barron Bostwick wrote

Bright little Dandelion
Lights up the meads,
Swings on her slender foot,
Telleth her beads,
Lists to the robin's note
Poured from above;
Wise little Dandelion
Asks not for love...

Pale little dandelion, in her white shroud,
Heareth the angel-breeze call from the cloud.
Tiny plumes fluttering, make no delay,
Little winged dandelion, soareth away.

Indeed Miss Bostwick, the dandelions in my next of the woods have soareth away, and for my love of this flower: I wanted to devote this post to it

In a few days I will open my frozen dandelion petal bags and begin my yearly jam/wine making, and in appreciation for the gift of this dazzling plant, I wanted to share a few of my thoughts on it.

These little plants are spectacular, not only can they fill your belly with deliciousness, but can be used as medicinal plants, and made into all types of jewelery. All in all there is little this plant cannot do, and it breaks my heart when I see people trying to get rid of them. Of special importance is dandelion wine, it is similar to drinking pure sunlight (and if you have ever basked in the sun and felt your skin absorb the rays, you are somewhat approaching what it feels like to drink a glass of good dandelion wine).

Now if you happen to be one of the unfortunate souls who has yet to discover the beauty of the dandelion, fear not if you see shadows in your yard picking these flowers when in bloom in the dead of night, or gleefully blowing at the seeds to disperse them. It is probably I, attempting to make yet another batch of dandelion wine!

Of course if frolicking in dandelion fields is not your things, I suggest you come over to my place for a glass of this wine, as I have been known to make strong concoctions that make the body dance and the mind take a sideways stance. It is with this new found view that you will finally see why I love this plant so much, and perhaps open the door to your heart as well, if only a bit to let the sunlight in.

It is only when people see the many uses and beauty of this plant, that I shall be allowed to rest. Until then I raise my glass to the dandelion and its future, and hope to see you bent over a flower enjoying all it has to offer the next year and many after that.

with dandelions on my mind,
yours always
Anna