It is the time of the year when here, in Santa Barbara, we see dandelions blooming in almost every neighbor’s front yard, and, apparently, they are hated more that they are loved… And not just by farmers who spend billions and billions of dollars every year on herbicides (even though dandelions are not among the absolute worst agricultural “pests”, they can be a problem!). With their thick, unbranching tap root and so very adaptable nature (meaning : just try cutting (mowing) your lawn with its stray dandelions short, and you will see for yourself – next time the flower will open earlier AND on a much shorter stalk, adapting and “foreseeing” that there might not be enough time left to grow to the possible and predicted 27 inch height that they can reach if not mowed!) they can unnerve and understandably become an archenemy of any savvy gardener or front lawn homeowner. However, dandelions are one of the most vital spring nectar sources for different pollinators! And it is fascinating that dandelions’ blossoms are open during the day with the sun and closed at night – they “go to sleep”, just like us!
But “first things first” : how did the plant get that strange name and what type of plant is it?
The name “dandelion” supposedly comes from French – “dent de lion” – meaning “lion’s tooth”, a reference to the tooth-like serrations on the plant’s leaves. In my mother’s tongue, though, dandelions are called ”pienenes” (loosely translated into English as the “milky ones”, referring to the white milk-like substance that oozes out of a picked flower’s stem each and every time. So, in my own language there is no mention of “lion’s teeth”… !)
The scientific name for dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. The Genus name “Taraxacum” is thought to have been derived from a Persian word for the plant: “tarashaquq”, says Wikipedia. It was recognized and used by Persian pharmacists around 900 A.D. The species name “officinale” derives from the Latin “officina“, store-room, an office or pharmacy. Here is a just a quick (and definitely not complete) run down of the plant’s said medicinal properties : used for loss of appetite, upset stomach, intestinal gas, gallstones, joint pain, muscle aches, eczema, and bruises; also used to increase urine production and as a laxative to increase bowel movements; also used as skin toner, blood tonic, and digestive tonic. Dandelion flower infused oil can be used in recipes meant to soothe chapped /cracked skin. If any of these ills afflict you or your loved ones, please, google that yourself – there are oodles and oodles of interesting resources and ideas out there (on the web, that is) and there is help out there, too (in your own backyard, if you have not sprayed it with pesticides, that is).
Some years ago I was helping my good friends, who had left for a trip, with their adorable three kids – 3, 7 and 9 year olds. We had had an unreasonably long night, and an unreasonably early and long walk on the dirt roads surrounding their home, and we were all already tired at around 8 am… On our way back the youngest one spotted a dandelion (yes, just one single bright flower) quite some distance away from the road in a meadow. The little girl had insisted on taking her scooter with her on the walk (I had obliged) and now, without any hesitation, she walked through the still dewy grass, dragging the scooter behind her (earning some bruises as it kept hitting her legs) and no amount of persuasion and suggestions to stop and leave the scooter behind or to abandon the whole attempt worked… she kept walking and walking…, as I safely stayed on the road with the older brothers of hers. She did eventually get to the dandelion and when she picked it up and held it high in the air for the whole world to see… she did it with such joy and contentment and palpable sense of true victory that that moment will be forever etched in my memory. Her presence in the moment, determination and clear intention to celebrate that yellow flower was undeniably a lesson on how to be fully present. Of course, it reminded me of my own childhood and also of Ray Bradbury’s “Dandelion Wine” and I wondered if these magical flowers (or weeds, depending on your point of view) do that to every human on this Planet – make one want to pick them up and, say, write a book, or bottle them up – be it in a wine concoction or tea, salve or tincture, or soap – or throw them into the compost pile or garbage can, or… just stand there and hold them up high in the air for the whole world to see and… celebrate…
So beautiful Indra! My mom always had a huge gorgeous dandelion about to burst on her desk. Since I learned to eat them as a kid, my daughters and I like them in our gardens. They are always nutritious, and not too bitter for salads in early spring. Of course the bunny makes a fresh feast of them year round.