But don't go reaching for the herbicide just yet! This common "weed" is actually a great little plant. Keep reading and maybe you'll change your mind about this perceived nuisance.
Interestingly enough, these things are actually full of nutrients, and are completely edible. Check out this link to see for yourself what kind of nutrients they contain.
Wikipedia's article on Dandelions points out that it is actually a beneficial weed that adds nutrients to the soil and aids shallow rooted plant systems. It gives you information on the culinary uses, how it figures into natural medicine, and touches on their impact on other insects. It also shows the nutritional info of raw greens.
Myla of Sweet Bee Honey and Gifts pointed out yesterday on her FB page that dandelions are extremely important in the pollination cycle. Because Dandelions are an early bloomer in Spring, they are one of the first plants for bees to source nectar from. And they are a food source for some species of moths and butterflies too.
A friend of mine posted this article to her website, which reiterates all the above information in a pretty easy to read format.
Hope this proved an interesting read and makes you re-think whether to rid yourself of such a great plant.
Besides, think of all the wishes you'll lose if you dig it out!
1 comment:
Myla's post really struck me yesterday too! I went to my parents house last night and they had been working in their yard...I saw all these dandelions chopped up...all i could think about were the honey bees.
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