Dandelions

Many years ago when I first came to Germany, I arrived with a suitcase full of my American ideas.  My mother, a consummate gardener, perceived the golden yellow blossom of the Dandelion flower as a mortal enemy.  “It just one is let to survive, the entire yard is ruined”.  So she spent many hours of her life, stooped in the battle of pulling those nasty deep roots.

Thankfully I was saved from this burden by my first German landlord.  At our first rental apartment I lovingly tended the garden much to the joy of my landlord until one day he found me, furiously pulling out all the Dandelions.  He ran out and asked me what I was doing and there my education began.  He instructed me on how for the bees the Dandelion might be the first pollen they collect after a long Winter in the hive.  How they use the Dandelion to feed their many animals such as parrots, rabbits and even the cows eat it.  They are extremely healing plants as well.  “So why are you throwing them out”.

So now, each May as the rolling fields of Germany bloom golden as the sun and vibrate with the rumbling tone of the bees, I smile and think of how much I have learned and how much more time I have on my hands.  Lets face it, you can’t look at a mustard yellow pasture and not smile.

To learn more about the much falsely maligned Dandelion here are a few links:

Some refreshment:
http://wellnessmama.com/4505/iced-lime-dandelion-tea/

Healing properties:
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/dandelion

Let them Bee:
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2015/may/12/dandelions-pollinators-wildlife-garden