Any gardener knows the curse of the dandelion - that spawn of hell. The dandelion is quick to reproduce, difficult to uproot, amazingly engineered, and even almost pretty - at least in its youth. It's also becoming somewhat of a mascot for me, an example of a survivor - come Monsanto or high water.
It all started with The Wizard of Oz. The Cowardly Lion steals the show with 'If I Were King of the Forest' - singing "I'm just a DANDY lion!" I played the gay lion in a high school performance, so I guess the writing was on the wall?
The dandelion is actually one of nature's more beneficial plants, every part is edible and even nutritious - even the stalk! Compared to the environmental disaster of the ornamental lawn (which got its start as a bourgeois aping of English manors) the dandelion is quite virtuous. The dandelion is related to spiritual seeking through the cover art for Peace is Every Step, by Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. The forward is unfortunately by H. H. the Dalai Lama, who is to Buddhism as the Pope is to Catholicism - in other words, extremely creepy and probably a CIA black-op.
Be that as it may, dandelions resonate lions, survivors, gayness, the spirit and good eating for me... and it reminds me of Jesus' story of the wheat and the tares. Today I came across this image of a god contemplating a dandelion. Will he spread his seed?
Update from essortment:
The word “dandelion” originated in France. The English translated the French word Dent de Lion to dandelion, which means “lion’s tooth.”
The dandelion’s official name is Taraxacum Officinale. This simply means ‘the official remedy for disorders.’ The whole plant is actually edible.
A weed is just a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered says the late Ralph Waldo Emerson. To many people, a dandelion is a pesty weed that spoils the look of their lawns. Now we know that a dandelion isn’t a pest at all. Spread the word.
Hey! That's the Gosporn tagline!
9 comments:
What a completely sweet image Michael - interesting juxtapositions in that one. Dandelions now make me think of the delightful PUSHING DAISIES episode with the dandelion-fueled car an this poor bulimic dandelion model pining for her lost engineer. And didn't we all go out as children when they first bloomed and pick a whole bouquet to present to our mother's as well?
Lovely pic Michael-all of them:-)I was interested to know that about dandelions-had no idea they were nutritious and all that-I always thought they were very science fictiony-i know not a word-when you could blow on them and spread their seed -sheeesh i am dirty even when i am not meaning to be:-)best as always to you and Varen!!
Those damn resilient dandelions are surviving fine in the U.K., and even flourishingThe literal ones anyway.
They are indeed the bane of my vegetable patch.
I wonder if there is some metaphorical aspect to the headline? Relating to all the hardy survivors of the world?
Thanks for the comments. Yes, S.S.A. - that is my sentiment also.
Americans are too obsessed with the (chemically-engineered) all-grass lawn. It's anti-nature. The only problem with dandelions is how quickly they go from bloom to seed.
Somewhere, somewhen, Mike, I recall the dandelion as an adjunct to vanquishing disease & boosting one's health … imagine that. Who'd've thunk! ATVB ~ Anadæ Effro (•:-)}
Hello, my friend,
I've been out of the loop for a while, but am starting to feel the tug of the synchroverse again. Of course, you're the first person I came to.
We live in Cherry Blossom country in Northern Michigan. In the fields beneath the gorgeous Cherry trees this spring were a carpet of yellow dandelions. The first thing I thought was yellow brick road.
I brought my wife by to show her and the first thing she said was, Yellow Brick Road.
The Dandy Lion walking about a path, a river, and ocean of gold. The sun king walking on the sun.
Peace and Bliss to you,
Thuth
Hello, my friend,
I've been out of the loop for a while, but am starting to feel the tug of the synchroverse again. Of course, you're the first person I came to.
We live in Cherry Blossom country in Northern Michigan. In the fields beneath the gorgeous Cherry trees this spring were a carpet of yellow dandelions. The first thing I thought was yellow brick road.
I brought my wife by to show her and the first thing she said was, Yellow Brick Road.
The Dandy Lion walking about a path, a river, and ocean of gold. The sun king walking on the sun.
Peace and Bliss to you,
Thuth
Thuth, welcome back! Thanks for the story.
Post a Comment