The spring lawn is covered in yellow dandelions. I suppose
one can call them ‘a pride of dandelions’ as they crouch between the last leaves shed by the oaks in preparation for their spring foliage. I wondered about them being called dandelions. Was it the yellow faces surrounded
by a mane of yellow petals or was it because the round seed head looks like a
lion’s mane just before a gust of wind disperses it.
I have never thought of them as weeds, although their
growing in the lawn does bother me sometimes. It is known that one can use every
part of the dandelion; root, leaves and flower. It can be used for food,
medicine and as a dye for colouring.
The health benefits of dandelions are numerous. Some maintain
that it improves digestion, aids weight loss, eases congestion of the liver, helps
to purify the bladder and kidneys, and more. They are believed to have anti-cancer properties as well.
An interesting titbit that I learnt recently is that the
dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies namely, the
sun, moon and stars. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball
resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.
I enjoy releasing the stars by blowing into the
puff ball. But now after learning about the health benefits, I am going to
capture the dandelions in their prime and make better use of this gift from
nature.
Very interesting. I like the notion of a healthy cup of dandelion tea. Thanks for a lovely post.
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