Spring is creeping over the horizon and my long-suffering husband is keeping an eye on his lawn (not ours!) for the appearance of dandelions. He hates them with a vengeance. As soon as they appear he is out there with his rooting fork to dig them out of the ground. It’s a fruitless task because- by mutual agreement- I have a bit of the garden that is wild. I don’t tend it at all, and during the year a lot of wild things grow- especially dandelions.
They are found in any nook or cranny and provide sustenance for bees and other pollinators from March to October as well as being the larval food plant for several moth species. Eight dandelions can provide enough for one bee’s basic needs. The seedheads provide food for goldfinch, redpolls, siskins, greenfinch and bullfinch. Watch how many types of insects visit it- themselves in the food chain. The roots burrow into the ground, opening the soil to allow water and air to get in and feed the soil biome. An important role in our biodiversity system.
The 17th Century Culpepper’s Complete Herbal praises the dandelion for all its health benefits- from healing warts, helping arthritis, and those with indigestion, liver and kidney problems. Whether eating the leaves in salad, infused as a tea or even roasting the roots. In WW1 they drank roasted dandelion roots when they couldn’t get coffee. In France and Holland dandelion leaves are a standard part of salads and soups for the health benefits. They are a crucial part of traditional medicine systems including Native American, Chinese and European practices.
Dandelions contain inulin, a polysaccharide that has a prebiotic effect and is used in modern digestive treatments. They also give off ethylene gas which help other plants like tomatoes and fruit ripen.
By avoiding frequent mowing (long-suffering husband take note) dandelions have a chance to grow and flower, providing nectar and pollen for pollinators, as well as being a source of strength and power for us mere mortals.
In Greek Mythology, the young prince Theseus is sent by his mother to find his earthly Father- King Aegeus -who welcomes him as his son. However- every nine years the Kingdom is committed to pay King Minos of Crete a tribute of seven youths and seven maidens in compensation for the assassination of his son. They in turn are fed to the Minotaur- a half man, half bull – kept in the underground labyrinth in Crete. Theseus vows to overcome the Minotaur and stop the tribute. He takes the place of one of the youths. However, when he gets to Crete, he realises that he is not strong enough to take on the task. The Goddess Hecate has been dismayed by the waste of young life, so she gives him dandelions to eat as these will give him the strength he needs. Sure enough, after 30 days of dandelions and training, with the help of Minos’ daughter and a ball of string, Theseus is able to overcome the Minotaur and the young people are saved! Huzzah!
All those powerful wives’ tales of the health benefits of dandelions must be true!
But does this convince long-suffering husband of the benefits of dandelions? Whilst he mutters under his breath about my dandelion patch, I am reminded of an old Sufi tale.
Nasruddin planted a flower garden, but found he had a great crop of dandelions. He asked many gardeners for advice on how to get rid of them but none of it worked. Eventually he went to see the Royal Gardener, but Nasruddin had already tried all the suggestions he made. Nasruddin was in despair. The Royal Gardener said, “Come with me.” He led Nasruddin to a corner of the garden which sparkled with dandelions. “Do as I have done,” he said, “and learn to love them.”
Love me, love my dandelions. Leave the lawn a little longer.
Janet Dowling
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Good day, with regards to your item in “Sidmouth Herald” about dandelions and bees.
I am 81 years old and have spent at least 60 years looking for bees on dandelions.
No luck so far!
Is this an old wives tale?
I am surounded by dandelions in the garden and roadsides. No bees!
I have involved a lot of friends and relatives in the hunt. Nobody has seen bees on dandelions.
Articles on bees on dandelions appear year after year in papers and magazines. No visual evidence.!
Kind regards, Jack Hargreaves.
I’ve seen a bumblebee on a dandelion this morning. Rarely a day goes by without seeing bees on dandelions.