Yesterday was Dandelion Day!

Yes, yesterday was Dandelion Day as it was the day when I saw the first Dandelions of the year in my yard - Dandelion Day! Hooray!

It won't be long before everywhere I look I will be able to see one of my favorite flowers blooming . . . this flower is bright, sunny and a lovely shade of yellow . . . and it is known as the Dandelion!

I know. Your reaction is likely similar to my grands' reactions. When they were younger they told me Dandelions are weeds, not flowers, but I told them I still loved them anyway! Within minutes of hearing this conversation, my middle grand brought me a handful of these yellow flower-weeds! Over the years I've received many handfuls of dandelions!

So, why do I love Dandelions? My husband is baffled by this, because he shares our grands' view of them . . . just weeds which pop up all over his yard! I love them because they are sunny, bright and children are able to pick them to their heart's content and no one will tell them to stop picking the flowers!

I love them because I love the twinkle in my grands' eyes and the smile which stretches from ear-to-ear when they bring me a handful of them!

Of course a few Dandelion fun facts would be appropriate for Dandelion season -

• Their name means "lion's tooth" in French (dent-de-lion) due to jagged leaf edges.
• Dandelion greens are edible and highly nutritious, containing more calcium than a cup of milk and high amounts of vitamin A, C, and K.
• They are the only flower that represents three celestial bodies: the yellow flower (Sun), the puffball (Moon), and the scattering seeds (Stars).
• If you mow them, they will grow shorter stalks to survive. Their taproots can grow over 15 feet deep.
• As one of the first flowers to bloom in early spring, they provide essential food for bees and butterflies.
• Despite being common, they were brought to North America by European settlers for their medicinal properties (acting as a diuretic) and as food.
• Dried and roasted dandelion roots can be used as a caffeine-free coffee alternative.
•  The tallest dandelion on record was over 70 inches tall (nearly 6 feet).

See, Dandelions are one of the best of all flowers! So, once again my yard is full of Dandelions and my heart is oh, so happy!