Lifecycle of the Dandelion

Early spring, when folks are desperate for something fresh, dandelion greens are used in a salad or as cooked greens. Just the leaves, not the buds or heads. Here is a link to several recipes using dandelion greens: the kitchn.com.
Personally, I am glad for the lettuce at the local grocery until ours comes in!

 

Zigs showed me how to make wine out of the flower heads Frank. I'm sure he'd give you the recipe if you ask him nicely

 

That video was cool Frank. I kept seeing a little chick in the center, waiting to fledge.

 

Thanks for the really interesting slow mo of the dandelion. I don’t eat them but the horses do..

 

I don't eat them, but my Mother used to.

They are very healthy, and good medicine too. I got a recipe for dandelion flower jelly yesterday. Guess I will share it, even though I have not tried to make it yet.

Dandelion flower jelly:

2 c fresh petals
4 c boiling water

Seep (steep?) the petals in the boiling water for 24 hours. Then drain and reserve the liquid.

And 1 box powdered pectin, and 1 T lemon juice to the liquid and bring to a boil.

Add 4 c of sugar and bring it back to a boil while stirring constantly. Once it boils, continue to boil 2 minutes.

This recipe makes 5 half pint jars.


Sorry I don't know the other measurements.


It sounded nice to me, so I hope to make it soon.


Dandelion root is good for liver ailments too.

 

I read someplace where dandelions used to be grown for food in the 1800s.

 

I saw aphids. Lots of aphids…throughout.

 

No i don't eat them, but can fry the flowers in a batter.

 

This is a beautiful video Frank. I love it when the dandilions bloom en masse here. It is our first blast of colour and the bears' first delicious treat. We see them grazing like cows on the dandilions in the field. I started mowing them away from the house until the fields bloom, so as not to encourage them in the spring.

@Sjoerd - I watched it twice ...my eyes followed the aphids the first time. haha Busy little creatures.

I grew up on dandilion greens, as well as Lamb's Quarters. There is lady in our area that makes salves and creams from the flower head and sells them at a lucritive price. Like AANightowl, my Aunties make dandlion jelly from the blossoms. It's very pretty. ( They also make Fireweed blossom jelly - which is mild tasting but gorgeous in colour.)

 

I have not yet made any jelly from dandelion flowers. I had just seen the recipe about the same day as this was posted. I want to collect flowers from some place where my dogs have not watered them.

 

I found twin dandies today..

 

That is a nice pair of danies…but pine cones as well. I really like those flowers.

 

Thanks dandies are bright yellow catch my attention to snip the flowers before they turn to seed. They have very deep tap roots some as long a 10 inches down deep in the soil. They are helpers in the garden by breaking up hard pad clay soils with their deep taproots.in many cases they are seen by roadsides and most areas untilled.