As new recruit to the Mount Hamilton Horticultural Society's writing group, who cooperatively submit garden related articles to the Hamilton Mountain News, I'm pleased to have been published in the community newspaper's Growing Green column online on the 6th of March.
Text of my initial opinion piece, which they titled, Reviled Dandelion an Early Spring Favourite is linked here and posted below - I hope you'll give it some thought.
"With springtime fast approaching, I find myself looking forward to the first spring colours and fragrant blossoms.
One of my early favourites is the sunny dandelion, or Taraxacum officinale. Though long reviled as scourge to lawn and garden, it is one of the first available sources of sustenance for bees and other pollinating species.
Though children have long admired the dandelion's ability to grant wishes when blown to the wind, the modest dandelion’s astonishing ability to self-seed and its deep burrowing taproot invites definition as invasive weed.
However, dent de lion, or tooth of the lion, so named for the shape of its leaves, is perennial and herbaceous and has many beneficial qualities that might render even the fussiest grass grower silent about dandelion eradication.
Untreated, dandelion is said to be completely edible — roots, greens and flowers — unless allergy or contraindicated medications prohibit. It offers beneficial treatment and curative properties for a multitude of human illnesses and conditions, containing vitamins A, C and K, iron, manganese, potassium, calcium and antioxidants. Dandelions also make an interesting wine and caffeine-free coffee.
I suggest welcoming the healthful herb-like greenery to your garden as you would parsley or kale, picking the seeds prior to flight to prevent too much spread.
That said, if your esthetic sensibilities simply will not coexist with dandelions, allow pollinators to feed on the life-sustaining plant until other pollen-laden blooms are ready, then carefully dig out the roots rather than using harmful pesticides and consider transplanting some of the dandelions to your veggie patch.
The University of Rochester boasts the hardy dandelion as a school colour and official flower. It has honoured the “weed” in its charming school song, The Dandelion Yellow.
Its celebration of the oft-maligned dandelion is inspirational and hopefully contagious. After all, enhancing your garden with healthy multi-species nourishment such as the dandelion aids in pollinator survival and benefits us all in many unexpected ways."
Growing Green is a regular Hamilton Mountain News feature prepared by the Mount Hamilton Horticultural Society (On Facebook and online at gardenontario.org/site.php/mhhs)
