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Heartwings Love Notes 310 - The Joy of Dandelions

Heartwings says, " A flower that has wandered from the garden may be seen as a weed."

The appearance of the little dandelion that faithfully blooms by my front steps every year is for me the first important sign of spring. The sight of its cheerful yellow face makes me smile. Now I know that spring really is on the way. Believe it or not, each yellow petal is actually an entire flower, each apparent blossom is really a bouquet. No wonder they are so packed with healthy gifts for the body.

Every spring I serve the vitamin rich greens. They are tasty in a stir fry or lightly steamed and then sautéed in olive oil with garlic. The dried roots, roasted and ground make a coffee-like drink. Early settlers brought the treasured seeds from Europe to America. For hundreds of years here and abroad dandelions have offered help and support to the liver and the kidneys and cleaned the blood of toxins. Unlike some diuretics because the roots and leaves supply potassium and magnesium, as they perform their diuretic function they don't reduce the body's own supply.

I have early memories of picking dandelions and bringing them happily to my mother, also of slitting the stems, inserting the flower heads and making flower crowns. The brown stains on my hands from the milky sap were of no concern to me. What mattered were the sunny faces and the sweet scent of these early harbingers of spring. Moreover, I could pick all I wanted and no one cared.

I greet the dandelions on my lawn with a child's heart. What a joy to see them blooming there. Perhaps my neighbors view my dandelioned lawn with less enthusiasm. The seeds of these sprightly flowers might bloom on their lovely all green lawns. Yet I cannot feel too guilty. The sight of these little suns is too engaging. I wish for my neighbors the same joy of dandelions that fills my heart.

May you too find joy as well as good health in dandelions.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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