In my opinion, the dandelion is a very tough plant! Not only, because it defies any gardener's good intention of eradicating it, but because it goes through an amazing and beautiful transformation, that is hidden inside its core. The tiniest of cracks might provide a dandelion seed with enough space in order to take root, thrive, grow and produce a beautiful yellow flower.
I remember growing up in the rural Black Forest in Germany, where grass fields would turn into yellow carpets in the spring. We used to collect the dandelion's golden flowers and create necklaces and headbands from them. They were a sign of winter's end, of a new season to start, of being able to wear short socks with our skirts.
Later, when my first son was about two years old, he had a German children's book about a ladybug living on a dandelion flower. The petals provided him with a safe home as they closed around the bug's body every night. One day, the flower would not open, worrying the ladybug. The inevitable and beautiful transformation of the yellow flower to a silver fluff ball, was illustrated by each seed flying off with its own sparkling umbrella. My son loved to run his little fingers over the shiny page. It was beautiful, and it was the beginning of a great journey, that would end possibly again on a meadow or in a crack in the sidewalk, only to produce another yellow flower that would send tiny messengers out into the world to tell its story.
"Bloom, where you are planted!", is what each seed could have said. This is not only the story of a flower, but of perseverance and strength.
I love the blog Elke! The dandelion weed is a misunderstood plant. I like how you have honed in on its beauty. I am the child of Greek immigrants. My mother served "horta" for dinner on a weekly basis. "Horta" are boiled dandelion weeds with some olive oil, salt and lemon. This meal is what nourished Greeks through the trying times of World War II and during the depression after the war. Everytime I see dandelion weeds I think of resilience and a determination to live.
ReplyDeleteElke- what a wonderful blog! I remember as a girl hearing stories of my great, great grandmother making dandelion soup. As a mom, a favorite memory is making a flower crown with my young Kayleigh- interlocking the small dandelion blooms. Seeing "strength and perseverance" instead of a pesky, annoying weed illustrates the beauty in which you see the world.
ReplyDeletekeep writing---- Liane