Taraxacum laevigatum
Perennial herb from a simple or branched stem-base and a thick, often deep taproot;
Stems: erect; solitary to several;
simple; hollow; glabrous or sometimes hairy above; exuding milky juice when broken
10-60 cm tall
Weeds are growing, well, like weeds, in my garden. I have spent hours weeding this last week and I do enjoy it but, like
Uncle Albert,
"I am so easily called away" by the beauty I see all around The Garden Brae of wildflowers and ferns and wonderful walks through the woods with Oberon.
Evidence of Weeding Look at the blur of that stirrup hoe go. Faithful companion Oberon by my side. BUT WAIT! What is that beautiful, exotic, naturalized species? Look at that exuberant yellow petal face looking up at me so confident and proud. Quick, Oberon, fetch the camera! Taraxacum laevigatum! Okay so it is only a dandelion but what a dandy lion it is! I am using exclamation marks because that's the feeling it gives - dozens of bright, clear, sulfur yellow exclamation marks radiating out of a center shared with a few wisps of tight, tiny petal whorls! How could I scorn nature by killing it?What would you do?
Hence forth I shall spell dande!ion with exclamation marks to commemorate the memory of this stunner
4 comments:
My compliments, Shauna. This is by far one of the most extraordinary garden blogs I've visited. And a wee bit different than most. Without any overstatements, I've thoroughly enjoyed all of your wonderful photography, thoughts and writing style, and for a second there, it felt like walking down the wood paths in your Fern kingdom. Thank you for joining Blotanical and showing all of us gardening souls the way to your lovely place. Respect!
Greetings from the Mediterranean
I truly appreciate dandelions as early fodder for bees in spring and of course their medicinal value is huge, especially as a liver tonic. And how wonderfully folkie is dandelion wine? Children love this flower--how many mothers, aunts and grandmothers have received a cheerful bouquet of dandelions from earnest little ones! My son noted with excitement his first dandelion "fluff" this spring with a blow and a magical wish on a walk at dusk.
If more than five dandelions appear in your garden, spring has officially arrived (an old wives tale)
I love my dandelions...and look at how beautiful they are up close! The bees love them as well.
Hello Viooltje,
The thoughtful voice of your comments has been an incredible welcome to this wonderful world of garden bloggers. The warmth and inspiration of your blog is a tangible trip to the mediterranean via your garden. It is an uplifting walk that I enjoy regularly. Lucky are the little hedgehogs that grace your garden.
Thank you Viooltje for gracing mine.
-Shauna
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