I was already celebrating today because it's Mike McCready of Pearl Jam's birthday (you have your holidays, I have mine!) But when I saw that it is Dandelion Day, I couldn't let the opportunity pass.

I was raised with great respect for dandelions -- my grandmother cooked the greens for my grandfather, I never had them, they said they were too bitter and I wouldn't like them, but that applied to the whole family and they wouldn't let me avoid THEM...and my grandfather made dandelion wine, which was out of this world. But when my grandmother used it to make her chicken that I can't tell you the name of because it was in dialect, instead of dry vermouth, which she usually used, it was so good, you could cry. Speaking of crying, he used to take me along to pick them for his wine, I'm 8, 9, 10, after 20 minutes, I was fried and exhausted, and knew the chances of Jesus driving up in a Good Humor truck were better than him taking me for ice cream, but he would go on for two hours non-stop, and he was in his late 70s.

I also love the song Dandelion by the Stones; and I have a special affinity for anything that is just living its life and minding its own business that has to hear it doesn't belong somewhere, or it is inferior to others of its kind, just because someone said so, because they didn't like its independence or ease in acclimating itself to different surroundings or didn't pay attention when someone told it where it could go and where it couldn't. So Happy Dandelion Day, dandelions. From one weed to another.

How wonderful to have such nice memories of your grandparents, Abbey!

I have grown to appreciate dandelions for the bees needs. I still struggle with it when I find one directly in my path, but it has gotten easier over the years to leave them alone.

I think dandelions are a welcome spring flower. I will quickly yank them from the garden but they look nice in the yard. It surprised me last week when I saw my first one on a south facing hill. It made me realize spring really is happening even though the weather would say otherwise.

They are a good plant with so many uses the leafs are also great in salad.

The story goes that Dandelions were first brought to the US by a Greek doctor in the 1800's because of their curative powers, particularly to promote healthy livers. The Dandelions thrived here, as you may have noticed The roots are potent in B vitamins and when harvested in the fall, and roasted and brewed they make a delicious coffee-like drink. The young leaves are not bitter and are wonderful in salads and soups. Such a giving plant. I have loved Dandelions since i was a child when i would blow on the seed heads and make wishes. Now my wishes are to find fresh Dandelion leaves, flower heads, and roots available in the markets.

In France, the dandelion is commonly called 'Pissenlit' (wet the bed) because dandelions were believed to have diuretic qualities. Another French name for them is 'Dent-de-lion', which means lion's tooth; the name derives from the shape of the leaves and gives a clear clue as to the origin of the English name!

Lovin' reading all the tidbits of info about dandelions!

In deference to my neighbors, I do try to keep them out of the relatively tiny front yard. I do like their leaves (and more importantly so do the bunnies -- between dandelions and clover in the lawn, the rabbits usually leave my actual garden alone).

I didn't know about roasting and brewing the roots, though -- cool.

No dandelions blooming here yet, even if it is their day.

Several years ago, I had a good sized patch of 'Rip van WInkle' daffodils out front (they disappeared during a re-working of that bed, sadly). A neighbor spotted them from across the street and said in disgust, OMG you're growing dandelions on purpose??! I had to show him one up close before he believed me that they were a type of daffodil. Good thing he doesn't wander into my back yard (although his daughter does... good bugs & butterflies back there!).

I would love to see a recipe for the dandelion coffee!

Loved dandelions, as a child growing up in Michigan.

Well...they're out and happy around here now...



Oddly, I couldn't find any in our lawn yet. Fail! Wonder what my neighbor thought - on my belly in his grass... Probably used to it by now...

I bet that was a sight!

I keep trying to hit the like button to get a laughing face like on facebook.

click on one of the little icons at the bottom of the post you're typing... you'll see something like "::rolleyes: " pop up in your text box, and when you preview or post it'll turn into the rolleyes icon

Thanks, Jill. I've used those before when I am posting, but my first instinct is to click the 'thumbs up' at the bottom of someone else's post to give a smiley face or a heart.