Comment concerning Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Untitled

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As a comment about Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), crittergarden wrote:

Dandelions are essential food for our pollinators.
With pollinators in danger of disappearing, always leave some dandelions for them to feed on!
Plant more, if you can.

Name: Dirt (Zone 5b) dirtdorphins Jun 15, 2014 1:39 PM CST
"Plant more if you can" ? They take care of that themselves well enough! \| Quote \| Post #638768 (1)

Surprisingly GREEN Pittsburgh (Zone 6a) crittergarden Jun 15, 2014 1:56 PM CST
I know, right? They can be really rampant here in my neighborhood, too. But I have had friends who lived in neighborhoods that require the lawns be kept like a golf course. If I was stuck in a godforsaken community like that, I'd plant them in my flowerbeds for the bees. AND deadhead them after they close up to keep the seeds down. As it is, I keep a container planted with them inside my critterproof veggie cage to feed to my house rabbit without the wild bunnies getting them all. I pick late in the day, after the bees have had at them and before the seeds happen. SHOW ME YOUR CRITTERS! I have a critter page over at Cubits. http://cubits.org/crittergarde... (1) \| Quote \| Post #638777 (2)

Name: Gabriel Minneapolis, Minnesota (Zone 5a) Freezing winters, warm summers Cyclaminist May 3, 2015 2:11 AM CST
I think it's crazy to plant dandelions, but hey, at least you're recommending deadheading them! I agree about pure-grass lawns, but dandelions aren't the best food for pollinators; native plant species are. Honey bees will drink from dandelions, but not all native bees will, and you've got to feed more than just honeybees. To give pollen and nectar to native bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies, and to feed caterpillars, you've got to plant native plants. [Last edited by Cyclaminist - May 3, 2015 2:18 AM (+)] \| Quote \| Post #843786 (3)

Surprisingly GREEN Pittsburgh (Zone 6a) crittergarden May 3, 2015 5:08 AM CST
I agree! Thanks for the info. I was trying to encourage people to NOT nuke them out of their lawns. SHOW ME YOUR CRITTERS! I have a critter page over at Cubits. http://cubits.org/crittergarde... \| Quote \| Post #843814 (4)

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