
Dandelion greens, jelly, wine, and more!
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This year, we're trying for and heirloom pink dandelion, and pink dandelion jelly sounds like food from a fairy tale. Gotta try that if we have any luck with the plants!
is it possible that you, Ramona Jackson, is a friend of mine from long long ago? Startling! does FDU ring a bell?
I love to find Dandelion flowers with long stems. Wash well and dry. Place the heads in a batter like pancake batter and fry them in a skillet. Children love this. Can do the same thing with Clover Blossoms.
Many, many years ago a family moved into my brothers' neighborhood on Long Island, N.Y. The husband told my brother that one of the reasons they had chosen that particular house was because of the hundreds of beautiful, golden flowers growing in the yard. It didn't take long before neighbors (not my brother, the son of a savvy, old Italian) enlightened them to their "weed infestation" and they were shopping for a lawn company to eradicate the now noxious dandelions. Go figure!
Could I start seedlings from the Dandelion Puffs (White) so I can have a clean product to harvest?
Yes, you can grow more dandelions from the white puff balls. The ball is made of several single-seeded fruits called achenes, which are each attached to a filament with a feathery tuft on the end. Separate out the small achenes and plant individually. (Just to be safe, select a dandelion that has not been exposed to chemicals or pollutants.) Be sure that you are choosing seeds from an actual dandelion, as there are several lookalikes. Also, if you prefer, there are cultivated gourmet forms of dandelions that you can find at mail order seed companies and other sources that are bred for their larger, less bitter leaves. Hope this helps!
I love the bright yellow polka dots in the yard. I think the weed killer manufacturers have worked really, really hard to convince people that dandelions are weeds. They don't harm a yard at all.
Personally, I have ethical difficulties picking dandelion flowerheads. I too think they are beautiful and, considering the speed in which the bees are dwindling away, much needed to feed these wonderful creatures when winter has ended! Without bees, we don't have flowers or food.
By the way, on my walk with the dog this morning, I noticed that the elastic ties used to tie 'Alnus' trees to the supporting pole (which are more of a corset to the tree) were gone! Some enlightened being cut those rubbers--and freed the trees! Good thing that it's not only me doing that! :-) Spring wishes, all.
Thanks for the great article.
Dandelion syrup is our favorite (my youngest would rather have this than maple any day).
https://naturesnurtureblog.com/homemade-dandelion-syrup
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