Well fellow gardeners, it’s that time of year. Dandelions ( Taraxacum officinale) are back in full force. Named after the deeply toothed leaves that in Old French were called “dent de lion” or lion teeth, say hello to the lawn lover’s least favorite flower, er weed, the dandelion. I don’t mind dandelions and maybe you don’t either. Take a cue from your kids and pick a bouquet of bright yellow dandelion flowers or cook up a batch of dandelion fritters. There are plenty of uses for them--check out the five listed below--after all, dandelions are the symbol of hope in Japan and we are all hoping for a better world.
1. Crown Yourself King or Queen of the Garden
Believe it or not I’ve never made one of these, but given the quantities of dandelions in my yard, this year might be the year to give it a try.
2. The Culinary Dandelion
Dandelion flower petals (the green part is bitter) can be used as a garnish or made into jelly, the entire flower sautéed or deep-fried, and the tender young leaves make a nice addition to a spring salad. Some people boil or sautee the roots with onions as a side dish. Visit Prodigal Gardens for some interesting dandelion recipes.
3. Pick an Impromptu Bouquet
Nothing beats the bright yellow color of dandelions in a spring bouquet, especially when it’s from your children or a loved one.
4. Make a Wish
I don’t know how this tradition started but I suspect it’s been around for a long time. Yes, I know that blowing the fuzzy seeds into the wind creates yet more dandelions, but who can resist watching the tiny parachutes sailing into the wind?
5. Dandelion Wine
Cook up a batch of freshly picked dandelion flowers to make into wine or read Ray Bradbury’s semi-autobiographical book, Dandelion Wine
.
Recommended reading:
Weed 'Em and Reap: A Weed Eater Reader
The Neighborhood Forager: A Guide for the Wild Food Gourmet
Stalking The Wild Asparagus