April 22,2019
Please note the e/m address posted (gmail) is not working. If you wish to contact me, please use:
story_teller_34@yahoo.com
I have quite a bit more work to do on this blog site!
Dandelions
The grounds maintenance crew was here. Some of the lawn area had grown into pretty healthy
hay. They came with enormous, snarling, mowers which were well up to the project they were set to.
Even though the grass was still heavy and wet from the heavy showers of the past days, those
grass gobblers chewed it off, storing it in their gigantic piggy-pack barrels.
The young men controlling these behemoths wore ear protection, and well they might or for sure they
would damage their eardrums after spending a very brief time riding these giants of much horse power.
Sylvia, my neighbor and I had been admiring the charming little golden blooms that dotted our lawn
area. The bright yellow flowers resemble miniature Carnations. We had both enjoyed the eating of their
delicious green leaves in salads. They can be added to a stir-fry too. I have been told their roots can make a kind of coffee beverage. Don't know. Never tried.
The flowers make a lovely and delicate on the taste buds wine. Gather the flowers early in the morning.
Add water, sugar and fresh ginger root to a stone crock Top it with a slice of rye bread spread with
a soft yeast cake, cover and store in a cool place. Some time to "work", then decant and bottle.
It needs a few months to age. By Christmas Eve, you will have a new treat to offer carolers.
If not picked, the flowers become puffy white balloons with a wee seed clinging to each delicate thread .
One morning early, Sylvia and I witnessed several tiny birds standing on their tiptoes to nibble the seeds.
How cute--and who knew? If the stem was too tall and the bird was not able to reach the balloon with
his beak, he would hop up and down and often the stem would bend low, allowing him to continue to dine.Why are these so useful, cherry little gifts of gold so despised? I lived for a brief time in New Jersey,
in section of suburbia. Large well-maintained homes with spreading gracious lawns., carefully and frequently mowed, fertilized and DE-weeded! The chief offender, the enemy of the perfect lawn was the dandelion.
If one golden orb dared reach for the sun, the owner of that stretch of lawn would receive complaint
letters from the neighbors. Much money is spent trying to eradicate these persistant offenders.
There must be something lacking in me for I love those dandelions. When the mower chomped it's way across my little patch of lawn, I felt saddened. During the afternoon I looked out to see most of those
golden blooms still there. They had kept their heads down as the mower passed over them.!
A Song of Dandelions
Your demise occupies the minds of the masses,
Creates summer jobs for the local boys,
Who with chemicals spraying, with string trimmer's roar
With lawn mowers snarling, create summer noise.
Your roots sinking deeply, you fade for a time.
The householder takes pride in his untarnished lawn.
You quietly wait, drinking dew in the dark
To rise, bright and gold, in a new summer dawn.
Please note the e/m address posted (gmail) is not working. If you wish to contact me, please use:
story_teller_34@yahoo.com
I have quite a bit more work to do on this blog site!
Dandelions
The grounds maintenance crew was here. Some of the lawn area had grown into pretty healthy
hay. They came with enormous, snarling, mowers which were well up to the project they were set to.
Even though the grass was still heavy and wet from the heavy showers of the past days, those
grass gobblers chewed it off, storing it in their gigantic piggy-pack barrels.
The young men controlling these behemoths wore ear protection, and well they might or for sure they
would damage their eardrums after spending a very brief time riding these giants of much horse power.
Sylvia, my neighbor and I had been admiring the charming little golden blooms that dotted our lawn
area. The bright yellow flowers resemble miniature Carnations. We had both enjoyed the eating of their
delicious green leaves in salads. They can be added to a stir-fry too. I have been told their roots can make a kind of coffee beverage. Don't know. Never tried.
The flowers make a lovely and delicate on the taste buds wine. Gather the flowers early in the morning.
Add water, sugar and fresh ginger root to a stone crock Top it with a slice of rye bread spread with
a soft yeast cake, cover and store in a cool place. Some time to "work", then decant and bottle.
It needs a few months to age. By Christmas Eve, you will have a new treat to offer carolers.
If not picked, the flowers become puffy white balloons with a wee seed clinging to each delicate thread .
One morning early, Sylvia and I witnessed several tiny birds standing on their tiptoes to nibble the seeds.
How cute--and who knew? If the stem was too tall and the bird was not able to reach the balloon with
his beak, he would hop up and down and often the stem would bend low, allowing him to continue to dine.Why are these so useful, cherry little gifts of gold so despised? I lived for a brief time in New Jersey,
in section of suburbia. Large well-maintained homes with spreading gracious lawns., carefully and frequently mowed, fertilized and DE-weeded! The chief offender, the enemy of the perfect lawn was the dandelion.
If one golden orb dared reach for the sun, the owner of that stretch of lawn would receive complaint
letters from the neighbors. Much money is spent trying to eradicate these persistant offenders.
There must be something lacking in me for I love those dandelions. When the mower chomped it's way across my little patch of lawn, I felt saddened. During the afternoon I looked out to see most of those
golden blooms still there. They had kept their heads down as the mower passed over them.!
A Song of Dandelions
Your demise occupies the minds of the masses,
Creates summer jobs for the local boys,
Who with chemicals spraying, with string trimmer's roar
With lawn mowers snarling, create summer noise.
Your roots sinking deeply, you fade for a time.
The householder takes pride in his untarnished lawn.
You quietly wait, drinking dew in the dark
To rise, bright and gold, in a new summer dawn.
I love your perspective, Cynthia. I have a friend, a friend of my daughter's from childhood, who has become a passionate bee keeper and defender of all pollinators. She offers her wisdom to anyone willing to listen and goes to classrooms around town to educate both students and teachers. We live in the high desert of Central Oregon and in our region dandelions are one of the first little flowers to pop out in the Spring. Jen tells all to PLEASE, leave them alone. They are one of the first Spring meals for the honey bees as they come out of hybernation. Where ever I see them, popping up in lawns or stretching themselves through cracks in the pavement I smile and thank them for the blessings that they offer. It is wonderful that you share your thoughts and give your readers a chance to see the simple little things for the great blessings that they truly are. Thank you. And bless you too!!!
ReplyDeleteIf only there were more people like you and Jen.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Oregon. My Mother was born in a logging camp
In the state of Washington. Her parents moved back East when she was young.
Thank you for writing.