A Sea Of Dandelions

5/3/2024

A dandelion - ready for its close-up.

Right now our backyard is a sea of dandelions, and I am completely awed by it.

All those months of winter weather, and now the landscape is green, with bright yellow blooms everywhere.

There's no denying that spring has truly arrived. It's like someone spun a color wheel and it landed on dandelion.

Some may scoff, but the sight of hundreds of bright yellow dandelions in my lawn makes me quite happy.

While I'm sure some of my neighbors "tsk-tsk" the clusters of bright yellow popping up in our wild lawn, I have noticed there are more yards in the area blooming with these dandy plants than there used to be.

Maybe it's a sign of acceptance, a decision not to use chemicals on the lawn, or simply a financial decision - having a service spray your lawn for weeds and insect prevention is not inexpensive.

It's certainly healthier for all creatures to avoid the chemicals.

A close-up of a dandelion showcases many different shapes and textures.

As a child I'm sure I picked more than my share of bouquets of these colorful blooms to gift to my mother, once upon a time. Sadly, the picked blooms tended to fade fast, barely making it into a vase.

I read somewhere recently that if you cut them (instead of pulling them from the ground) like you would any other cut flower, there is a better chance of them hanging on a bit in an arrangement. So, I decided to give it a try.

I picked some of the tallest ones, cutting them with garden clippers, and put them in water right away. Then I filled a mini vase with them.

Fresh-cut dandelions in a mini crystal vase.

Next, I arranged a few into a bigger spring bouquet with lilacs and tulips. The bright splash of yellow added a whimsical touch to the arrangement.

That was earlier this afternoon. Just now, as dusk is falling, they are closing up. Like they do in the ground.

The test will be to see if they open up again at sunrise, or if I have hastened their demise.

Lilacs, tulips, and dandelions.

Even if they don't survive in a vase, dandelions are a multi-purpose flower. They add nutrients to the surrounding soil, and they are early food sources for bees and other insects.

Just this morning I watched as some White-throated sparrows snacked on the seed heads of some faded blooms. They seem to be a popular snack for the wild birds, and other critters, that visit our backyard.

The neighborhood rabbits particularly like the stems and the leaves. The same parts that are edible, and can be used in salads.

When evening closes in, dandelions do, too.

A White-crowned sparrow snacking on a faded dandelion, eating the seeds.

A regular backyard visitor, this rabbit enjoys snacking on dandelion leaves and stems.

This morning, I am happy to report, the blooms that had closed up after sunset last night, have opened up to a new day. They look sunny and cheerful, and full of springs potential. Have I convinced you to go outside and pick yourself a bouquet of dandelions yet?