Dandelions: Friend or Foe?

Simple and fresh and fair from winter's close emerging, Forth from its sunny nook of shelter'd grass — Innocent, golden, calm as the dawn, The spring's first dandelion shows its trustful face. — Walt Whitman

It won't be long before dandelions start poking their heads through the leaves, announcing the arrival of Spring.

I almost stepped on this one last Spring as I was on my way to photograph something else, but I happened to look down just in time.

As I knelt down to get a closer look through my camera lens, I was so glad I took the time to stop and capture the flower nestled in the grass and leaves.

I know dandelions are considered a weed and a nuisance by most gardeners, but, upon researching them, I found that they have redeeming qualities, and are actually a beneficial weed, with a wide range of uses.

A dandelion's ability to break up hard earth with its deep tap root, bringing up nutrients from below the reach of other plants, makes it a good companion for weaker or shallower-rooted crops. It is also known to attract bees, offering an important source of nectar early in the season.

Dandelion roots, leaves, and buds contain abundant amounts of vitamins and minerals and have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and medicinal teas. The USDA ranks dandelions among the top four green vegetables for their nutritive value. They are the third highest food source for Vitamin A, and contain twice as much Calcium as spinach.

They have been used to treat weight loss, cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure, intestinal problems, liver spots, acne, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer.

So, the next time you pull up dandelions, remember that they aren't all bad. You might also keep in mind that the taproot runs deep (up to 10' long), and is twisted, and brittle. If you break off more pieces than you unearth, the pieces that remain in the ground will regenerate a new little patch of dandelions.

I hope this has inspired you to think of dandelions in a new light. I prefer to think of them as "messengers of Spring" ... and after the unusually harsh winter we've had here in Mississippi, we will welcome any sign that Spring is on the way.

Mystery Flower

I took these pictures recently of a flower growing in one of our flowerbeds. Can you identify it? You can click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you'd like.

I captured a little lagniappe in the following picture, without realizing it until I edited it (see the little bug?).

Can you tell what it is yet?

I'm sure most of you have recognized this exquisite little flower by now, but I'd be willing to bet that you've never looked at them or thought of them as a thing of beauty until now.

Yes, it's a just a little Clover Blossom, happily thriving in our bed of Louisiana Irises.

I hope this will make you stop and think the next time you reach to pull up a clump of clover or another "weed" in your yard or flower beds ... and at least take the time to appreciate its beauty and uniqueness before you "yank it up."

A "Weed" is in the Eye of the Beholder

Last week, I wrote a post about Bradford Pear Trees, one of the prettiest early-Spring blooming trees here in Vicksburg. While I was out taking pictures of the Bradford Pears, I noticed several patches of tiny purple "weeds" growing amongst the grass near the pear trees. Of course, I had to get a closer look at the pretty purple flowers, so I stopped and took some pictures of them, too.

As I looked through the macro lens of my camera, I was amazed at how beautiful these delicate little flowers are up close. You can click on the photos to enlarge them, if you'd like.

After googling "purple weeds," I discovered that my purple flowers are a member of the mint family and are called "Henbit." A winter annual that blooms in the spring, Henbit is found throughout the United States. It's probably not very popular when it's growing in your grass ... but, after seeing these pictures, perhaps the next time you see some on the side of the road, you will remember the beauty hidden amongst all those little purple "weeds."