Our ancestors BROUGHT dandilions from Europe because they liked the greens, and a little dandilion wine.
We had a lawn, when I was growing up, dotted with small daisies, and violets, that didn't seem to mind being mowed. Mother added the grass clippings to our extensive compost heap, along with the mortal remains of the dandilions. Mother was a disciple of Rachel Carson's, having met the lady, when she worked at Chatham College. For her, the best weed killer was a trowel, and the ideal insecticide was a praying mantice.