Language Translator

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Which Way Did It Go?...My Previous Post, I Mean!

From Alice In Wonderland!

A couple of days ago, I posted ~ oh, something about Dandelions, and it's not showing up on the reading list!!!  I can see it on my blog, tho.   I've tried to re-post, changed the title...but to no avail! 

I originally wrote the post last May, and Blogger lost it, save, the original photo and my first paragraph.  It was never retrieved, but the first of it was saved in my drafts.  So, I re-wrote and added new pictures and information.  I re-published on March 15, with no results.  Then, re-published on March 16...still not showing up...ugh! 

This is a test, to be sure!  To be, or not to be!

Have a wonderful week!

Thank you Yahoo Images for the picture!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Dandelions Galore...beckoning Spring!

Photo by Suzanne * February 20, 2011

As I was meandering thru the backyard one sunny February afternoon, scouting for anything unusual to photograph, I noticed some patches of dandelions (not unusual plants) to the far back of the yard.

I just recently discovered that the dandelion is a perennial-I mean, who considers that?  We just treat the dandelion as a pest and we're always out there digging them up.  But, I've always thought of the dandelion as a pretty yellow flower to be picked and brought inside to a enjoy.  After a short study, I learned that because of the jagged leaves at the base of the dandelion plant, it was given name in Old French of  "Dent-de-Lion", meaning "lion's tooth".  And the yellow blooms grow on long tubular stems, that leak a white, milky substance when broken.  Eventually, the flower becomes a white, fluffy head of tiny parachutes.  And it's fun to blow on them and watch them float into the air!!!  ACHOO!!!

See?  Even my grandson Shawn, gets the picture!  I taught him well...hehe.  He goes out back in search of the great fluffy globes of the 'Dent-de-Lion'.  Actually, this is how the Dandelion gets propagated...all of the children blow the seed 'willy-nilly', and, where they stop...
...well, you know the rest!
Grandson Shawn * March 2, 2012
photo by Mawmaw in Fort Worth, Texas

Now, you know I did a little digging and came up with several functions of the dandelion.  It seems that the greens are good in salads, although, they can be bitter!  Blagh!  Not for me!

Ahhh...yummm, here we go!!!

1) You can eat the flowers, or use them to make wine...hmmm!
2) Or, you can make Dandelion flower pickles?????
3) The blooms can be deep fried and used with other veggies in a stirfry dish.

Well, I don't know about the edible uses of the dandelion, but there are also various medicinal uses of this glorious pesty plant.

1) Dandelions are used as a diuretic, enabling the body to get rid of excess fluid, without relieving the body of potassium.  As a tonic, it strengthens the kidneys.

2) The plant sap contains latex and is used to remove warts and corns.

now, where in the world did this come from?

3) As a tonic, Dandelion is also used in treating joint pain, eczema, and liver conditions, such as hepatitis and jaundice.

'wicked, huh?'

And, now, my dear readers...we must ask ourselves:

* To dig, or not to dig?
* Do I ooze the sap from the stems of the Dandelion
and bottle it for use on my corns?
* Should I harvest the 'Lions Tooth' leaves for my salad?
* Or, may I stir fry the plant with my favorite veggies as a side dish?

It's up to you!!!

***
I'm so glad to see you all here...I think Spring has just about Sprung, and since we've sprung forward in time, I feel like I'm losing time somewhere.   But, I'm sure I'll catch up.

Here are a few Birthdays we'll be celebrating before 'March Madness'
blows into 'April Showers'!

Shemp Howard (The Three Stooges)  March 17, 1895
John Sebastian * March 17, 1944
Kurt Russell * March 17, 1951
Rob Lowe * March 17, 1964
OH!  And my friend Cindy * March 17, 19..

Happy Birthday!

Notice, I listed Birthdays occurring on March 17?  Why, you ask?

Happy St. Patty's Day!
Thank you:
Google
Yahoo images
wikipedia

Thank you, my Dandy little Lion blower, Shawn!

And, thank you my dear readers, far and near.  I am so glad you took the time to stop by MyTexasGardens for insight to the Dandelion...I know, I do look at them differently, and, do I 'salivate'?  NAH!!!
I just admire them for what they are!

Be safe...not too much green beer, you hear?

"You cannot forget, if you would,
Those golden kisses all over the cheeks of the meadow,
Queerly called dandelions."
~Henry Ward Beecher


Ahh......choo!