Dandelions-More Than Just A Weed.

Spring has arrived, so have the Dandelions. To many this little yellow/orange flower represents nothing but trouble in the lawn. A weed that has to be plucked and destroyed before it takes over and changes the entire landscape look.

I first enjoyed this little weed ( actually it is an herb ) as a young child. I was lucky to have a grandmother that knew all about wild plants and spent time teaching and introducing us to the many benefits of same.

All parts of the dandelion are edible and have medicinal and culinary uses.

I'll focus on the culinary here.

Dandelion roots can be harvested during any frost free period and enjoyed steamed, roasted, or eaten raw.


They can also be roasted and ground into a coffee substitute. ( my mother did this during WWII, when coffee was on the list of rationed goods.)

The flowers are best known for making wine. They can also be tossed into a salad along with the leaves. The leaves are rich in potassium, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C.

If you wish to grow your own selection and not have them cropping up all over your lawn, this is easy to do.

" Clio " is an Indian variety that produces high yields of upright greens that are easy to harvest.
You can order the seed from: http://www.johnnyseeds.com

Dandelions are self seeding and will always come back , year after year.

Wilted dandelion greens , red onion , thinly sliced avocado , and sweet purple grapes make a marvelous salad.

Enjoy and go wild for a day!

Bea Kunz
http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com