Here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the trees are bursting with buds, the grass is bright green, the hostas are sprouting out of the ground, and I cannot wait for the woods to be filled with the white petals of trilliums! We are busy working on our garden, making updates on our property, and enjoying being outside under a warm sun without layers of sweaters and jackets. We welcome the longer days, the rain storms that bring life to our homestead, and the still-cool nights.
Anyone with a lawn also knows that now is the time for those little yellow heads to pop out of the grass. Children at recess are picking them for their teachers or a schoolyard crush. They are taking and rubbing the flowers against their skin to dye it yellow. Or weaving them together to make little crowns. Soon, those same kids will be picking them, making wishes, and blowing the seeds across the yard. While other children fear getting too close to them because of the rumor that they cause you to pee the bed.
Dandelions are often viewed today by adults as more of a lawn nuisance rather than as beneficial. This is not only because of their propensity to cover a lawn, but their ability to grow in the most unlikely of places. They are hardy and great at surviving. It’s not uncommon to find one growing in a crack in the pavement.
It’s only in recent times, however, that dandelions have been viewed as an unruly weed that needs to be rid of. They actually have a positive impact on humans, wildlife, and their environment. We should learn from the youngsters how to enjoy these so-called “weeds”.
Here are five facts you may not have known about dandelions and how we have interacted with them over time:
1. ) Originating from Europe and Asia, it is thought that the dandelion came to the Americas on the Mayflower, not as a stowaway, but on purpose. Their seeds were intentionally planted in settlers’ gardens. There was a time when dandelions were revered. They were viewed as beautiful, welcomed in gardens, and written about in poems. Gardeners would actually pluck the grass out from around dandelions to make more room for them.
Why would settlers intentionally want to bring dandelion seeds with them for their future gardens? A few reasons actually:
2.) They were used for medicinal purposes. Dandelions have been known for their medicinal properties for a long time. They have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1,000 years. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians also knew the beneficial uses of dandelions. Clay tablets left by ancient Egyptians spoke of their uses in herbal remedies. Tonics were made using dandelions to help the body flush out toxins in the bloodstream. They also can be used as a gentle diuretic, which is why one folk name for dandelions is “piss en lit” (piss in the night).
3.) Dandelions are a great source of nutrients. They are a better source of Vitamin A compared to spinach and Vitamin C compared to tomatoes. Dandelions are also packed full of iron, calcium, and potassium! Organic dried dandelion roots are sold at stores for around $20 per pound. Tea, wine, salads, as a coffee substitute, soups, and more, dandelions make a great, nutritious addition to recipes. Many cultures use dandelions in their cooking. It’s important to note that dandelion pollen may cause allergic reactions in some individuals when eaten.
4.) They are beneficial for your lawn’s overall health. Their taproot runs deep and can pull essential nutrients from deep in the soil so that other plants, like your grass, can indulge as well. Dandelion roots grow deep (15ft!) and are wide-spreading, this helps to prevent erosion and to aerate the soil.
5.) Our current use of pesticides, including herbicides that are often used on dandelions to eliminate them from our lawns, is causing harmful effects on our health, our pets’ health, and the health of wildlife. It is estimated that 67 million birds are killed each year due to our use of pesticides. Pesticides may increase our risks for cancer as well as affect our nervous and endocrine systems.
I love that I don’t have to spend money on products to rid my lawn of something, especially if that something has a positive impact. I also love that I don’t have to spend time worrying about and de-weeding my lawn. I honestly find lawns without a single dandelion to be a bit drab. Their flowers always remind me of sunshine and warm weather.
Do you have a dandelion recipe or remedy you’d like to share? Please, leave a comment!