BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 06:10 PM

"Where have all the dandelions gone?
Long time pi-issing.."

Regards

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 03:24 PM

Don't get me wrong - I love dandelions. Lovely flower and the whole plant is useful. Just not on my lawn! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 02:23 PM

Lie down amongst them on a sunshiny day and just watch, close up, all the precious little pollinator bugs feasting. That's what I do. Mrs Steve thinks I'm mad. I may be nutty but I'm truly sane, to quote that greatest of all gardeners, Lawrence Hills.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 02:05 PM

Most of them seem to be in my front lawn at the moment. They have not heard of Verdone yet...

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 12:35 PM

Wild carrot and Queen Anne's Lace are two separate plants in the UK, Daucus carota and Anthriscus sylvestris respectively.   Whilst I wouldn't rush to eat either, they are both harmless to handle, wet or dry.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 12:29 PM

It is not a criminal offence, nor any kind of offence, to pick dandelions in England. Why, I used to pick the flowers by the bucketload to make dandelion wine, and excellent it was too. It's important to shake the bugs out of them first. It's illegal to dig up a wild plant on private land without the owner's permission. Certain vulnerable species are protected by law, but dandelions are not among them. As for getting rid of them, dandelions are a valuable early source of nectar for pollinating insects. I don't mind the small inconvenience of uprooting and composting the few that get into my veg plot. Otherwise, I think we should let them be. They're very nice when they blossom en masse in spring, in my opinion. If you want to try eating them as a salad, blanch the young leaves by putting a flower pot over the plant for a week first. I must confess that I'd rather stick to my wild rocket. A weed is only a weed when it's in the wrong place. I don't regard roadside verges as wrong places.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 11:03 AM

I live in America, and I try to grow a garden which looks nice, provides tomatoes, and supports butterflies and other nice bugs. I have no room for dandelions, a Eurasian weed.

Contrary to popular belief, dandelions are easy to get rid of. Once you remove them, very few of their seeds drift in. One day, years ago, I removed all the dandelions, and I have hardly a one on my place today. When I see one, I dig it up.

Before that, I tried tender young dandelion greens in salad. They tasted awful, just like the weeds they are. Ebbie, I feel sure your pancakes would taste the same.

Truthseeker, the side yard next door to me is choked with dandelions. No way are they gone.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,Truthseeker
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 07:29 PM

Please! Do you not live in England? Where to pick a dandelion is now a criminal offense!! Dandelions are healing and are a detoxifying agent.. It was free and profuse, here in US,they are gone! Just like grape seeds,melon seeds etc ,etc, Wake up! Grow your own food!! And you guys have alimentarious codex!!! GOD help us all..

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 10:44 PM

Our bindweed is good every year. I pull them, and they come back. I'm thinking of simply assigning names to them (Emerald, Twister, Sneakey) and considering them pets.

Somebody mentioned Queen Anne's Lace, or wild carrot. Did you know that if you handle that when it's wet, it can give you an ugly outbreak that resembles poison ivy? I learned that the hard way.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 11:28 AM

We had plenty of dandelions on the allotment, but perhaps less than previous years. The thing that has been too rampant to properly keep on top of this year has been the bindweed. Far worse than previous years - it's like Day of the Triffids in the fruit cage...

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Janie
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 10:14 PM

Hawkweeds will keep blooming all summer long if mowed down before it goes to seed. May be that in different climes dandelions bloom thru summer, but generally blooms from late winter/early spring and finishes blooming by late spring or early summer (in more northern climes.) I have a yard full of different species of hawkweed, most of them broad leafed but a few with toothed leaves somewhat similar to dandelion. Their leaves are usually at least somewhat hairy, however, and not the same shade of green as dandelions.

When talking about wild members of the parsley family, I think it is always an excellent idea to include Latin names. That is because some of them are very, very toxic, and many of them look similar enough that it takes a trained eye to be sure. (Poison and Water Hemlock as well as Fool's Parsley come to mind, all three very common where I live.)

Referencing Jeri's post above Anthriscus sylvestris, which is locally called Cow Parsley) and Daucus carota, which is locally called either Queen Anne's Lace or Chigger Weed, are also, in some regions of the world where they grow called Wild Carrot. The first year roots of Daucus carota are somewhat sweet and carroty tasting. The first year roots of Anthriscus sylvestris are edible, non-toxic, and not obnoxious tasting, but not tasty. Probably nutritious.

There are hundreds of species of dandelion that grow around the world. Dandelion greens are very high in vitamin A, pretty high in vitamin C, and also in calcium and iron. Also a good source for potassium and zinc and other trace minerals. There has been almost no research done on humans regarding the claims as a diuretic, but given it's long history across cultures as such, I think it likely research on humans would likely substantiate that it is diuretic. The roots are not tasty but are classically used in preparations for "spring tonics" that they are especially high in mineral nutrients. In most root crops, minerals concentrate more in the roots than in the leaves and flowers, and as rich as the leaves are nutritionally it is reasonable to suspect the roots are even more rich in minerals. There is research that indicates dandelion flowers are a good source for antioxidants. Don't know about the rest of the plant.

But it ain't the tastiest plant on the planet. I like some very tender and early dandelion greens included in a salad, but they are a little bitter. Don't much care for them steamed or boiled by themselves but will add some of the early leaves to steam or saute with other more palatable greens. Tend to use them to "spice up" the pot or salad, in moderation.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 03:39 PM

We have several Hawkweed types here in UK. One, Orange Hawkweed, is known as Fox-and-Cubs. But they're not dandelions.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 12:12 PM

I searched everywhere for dandelions today. Where there would have been dozens in years gone by there is but one - and that one is cowering in a corner, presumably for shelter against something.

Nothing has been done to eradicate them - I always used to ensure that there were seeds left to start more plants when I was gathering the heads for the birds and I even blew the 'clocks' onto any open ground rather than leave it to chance.

Maybe the increasing heat has done for them.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 10:55 AM

We had a shedload of dandelions here in Staffordshire, but that was back in May and they all went to seed in June.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:58 PM

Hawkweed.

Note the barren yard adjacent. No bees at his flowers. I have at least 100 bees on my front and back lawn at any given time.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnomad
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:31 PM

OK, so to gnu, give the dandelions a go if you like, when available. The leaves are definitely decent for salads (if salad is your thing, it isn't everybody's) the flowers are safe but I dunno how they taste unless made into wine, which is alright. I'm sure there's good dandelion-flower wine to be had, but I've only encountered alright.

With hawkweed you are on your own, we await your reports with interest.

Leenia: that sounds right except the getting-rid-of-it bit. Lots of UK gardeners would give up their eye teeth as well as their first-born children, just to be rid of dandelions, maybe they need to move in near you. That gill over ground stuff looks pretty enough but sounds a real pain, luckily you seem to have got its measure.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 03:55 PM

"Whack o' Hawkweed". I like it. Maybe for a band?

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 02:19 PM

gnomad... I got em both. They come at different times of the summer. The pic is of dandelions gone to seed. I got a whack of hawkweed on the go right now.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 10:44 AM

Flattish leaves with jagged edges (like lion's teeth) growing in the form of a rosette. Bright yellow flowers about 1.25 inches across and flat in profile. Forms a ball of seeds which blow away in the wind but don't actually go very far.

Easily killed by digging blow the 'crown' and snapping the tap root.
My property, which was neglected and weed-choked when we bought it, has almost no dandelions on it now.
=============
Another invader is 'gill over the ground' or 'creeping charlie.' Here's its picture:

http://www.wiseacre-gardens.com/plants/wildflower/gillover.html

Creeping charlie smothers everything in its path, and pulling it up has no noticeable effect.

On a mild day last February, I looked at my back yard and noticed that everything was brown and dormant except the creeping charlie. (This is the mark of an invader. It doesn't know what the heck time of year it is.) I mixed up some Round-up and sprayed the creeping charlie. That proved very effective. I have very little CC on my place now.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnomad
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 09:20 AM

If flower use in pancakes follows the practice when making dandelion wine you need to separate the flower petals before use. You don't want the green bracts (sometimes called sepals) which hold the petals together, as they are bitter and nasty.

BTW I thought gnu's plants were hawkweed rather than dandelion? I have no info on their consumption if so. Similarly leenia's "weak plant that tastes like weeds" (I paraphrase) leads me to wonder whether we are all discussing the same stuff? Wikipedia gives a number of plants that might possibly be taken for dandelion.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: ranger1
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 07:38 AM

gnu, the flowers are supposed to be delicious. Can't be any stranger than my mum snapping a few nasturtium flowers out of a former neighbor's hanging flower pot and munching on them.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:35 AM

Not moved 'it' - Difficult to move a lawn :-) We have not long since moved iN!

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:04 AM

We have a few o n our front lawn but I dunno if it is more or less than usual because we have only just moved it!

Funny it has a different name in France as as Dandelion is from the French dent-de-lion, meaning "lion's tooth". It is also a very useful plant as all parts of it can be used - Leaves and buds in Salads, Heads brewed into wine and roots dried and ground to provide a base for Dandelion coffee. Not tried any myself but the daughters reckon they are all fine.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnu
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 08:38 PM

Ebbie... "2 c. dandelion flowers" Really? The flowers? Hmmm... you first. Lemmie know.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 06:24 PM

As a result of putting feed out for a couple of stray cats during the sub-zero weather when they showed up, we had massive invasions of starlings in the early spring.

I don't think they ate all the dandelion seeds, but they dumped enough poop to just about kill the whole lawn. It is possible that the somewhat unusual weather had them looking for unusual places to invade, since they haven't been much of a problem for a couple of people with new-seeded lawns in recent past years.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 05:17 PM

I live within sight of the sea on the South coast of England

There used to be lots of dandelions in my garden - I don't use any chemicals nor have I dug them up. I did feed the 'point of opening' seed heads to by budgerigars, but that seemed to have little effect on the numbers of plants and flowers - I used to disturb the open heads so the seeds were spread about when picking the ones for the birds.

I don't know why, but these days the dandelion is an endangered species on my patch, if not extinct.

The garden is certainly fertile, I have to fight back the brambles, but some usually survive to produce lots of berries, there are loads of apples again this year, there were quite a few gooseberries too.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 04:52 PM

I have not tried these but should be colorful.

Dandelion Blossom pancakes:

2 cups whole wheat flour
4 tsp. baking soda,
pinch of salt,
two eggs,
1 cup of water,
4 T. olive oil,
2 c. dandelion flowers

Mix the dry ingredients together. Beat the eggs in, then add the liquid and oil. Beat the oil and stir in the flowers. Spoon batter into a hot pan and cook like regular pancakes. Serve with maple syrup, yogurt or jam.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnu
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 03:54 PM

Just wait.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: MikeL2
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 10:31 AM

hi Wasn't that the name of a Pete Seeger Song ??? lol

You may not have many over there but here in my garden it has been one of the worst years for them. Cutting the grass lower and more often helps keep them down.

Lots of butter flies too. They have ruined my neighbour's cabbages.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,John J...notaguest
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 07:44 AM

S'funny, it was only yesterday that I mentioned the lack of dandelions in our back lawn to the Mrs JJ. Normally the lawn is peppered with the damned things.
We had a cold-ish and slightly longer last winter than usual here in NW England, but nothing else of note that might effect the dandelions.
JJ

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Janie
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 07:38 AM

In the USA Cow Parsley is usually the common name for the plant Anthriscus sylvestris. Queen Anne's Lace is the common name we use for Daucus carota. They are somewhat similar in appearance and I do see from a little research that Anthriscus sylvestris is also sometimes called Queen Anne's Lace.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: MMario
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 06:56 AM

JOhn-in-kansas; spray poison ivy with bleach. Kills it a treat. you may have to repeat a few times but it does kill it.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 04:50 AM

The enuretic effect is a sort of folklore, Wiki says

    Dandelions
    Anecdotal reports and folk wisdom say children who handle dandelions can end up wetting the bed. Dandelions are reputed to be a potent diuretic. English folk names for the plant are "peebeds" and "pissabeds". In French dandelions are called pissenlit, which means "urinate in bed"; likewise "piscialletto", an Italian folkname, and "meacamas" in Spanish.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 04:24 AM

"As a kid, on Friday nights I was sent across to the chippy for "one of each""

I can't think of what to to say about that...

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,Musket getting nostalgic
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 03:55 AM

I bought a can of dandelion and burdock pop the other day.

That took me back. ..

As a kid, on Friday nights I was sent across to the chippy for "one of each" (Worksop Speke for cod and chips with mushy peas) abd a bottle of dandelion and burdock.

Don't ask me why, but once I read it above, I recalled that they were known as pissabed too. I suppose putting them in fizzy pop and giving them to children tends to....

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 07:22 PM

Our little lot has a large area behind that's a "city property" and gets no maintenance at all, so preventing "invasives" from bursting forth every spring is nearly impossible.

Persistent invasions of poison ivy and wild sumac are pretty uniform. I have resorted to chemical warfare to try to control the ivy, but have found the strongest chemicals easily available pretty much "ineffective." I'm considering perhaps napalm as a next step.

Since the sumac is "woody" the ones that can't just be whacked off by the lawnmower are just "banded" and left to die, but it's rather time consuming.

In previous years the dandelions have been plentiful, but there apparently has been a "change in management" of some adjacent rough ground and this year we saw almost none of them, with the new ornament being what my Ag agent says is "chickweed." It's also possible that the erratic drought-to-deluge weather has changed the dietary preferences of the local birds, since every new (previously unnoticed) growth seems to spring out of a clump of bird poop.

The chickweed doesn't seem to be inclined to grow very tall, which would reduce mowing needs, so I may investigate encouraging it as it seems to be of some help in crowding out the lambs quarter and sunflowers, although it does nothing for the wild grapes (inedible - although the mature fruit might work as ammo for a BB gun) on the back fence and has no effect on the "Russian thistle." I'm considering starting a couple of blackberry bushes as a counterterrorist force agains the grapes, since experience in the Seattle area indicated blackberries can kill out almost anything else, but I'm not sure the climate is right for vigorous growth. (In Seattle the blackberries also seemed somehow symbiotic with large slugs, and I'm not sure they're really desirable.)

A curious observation regarding the dandelions is that they never seem to appear on my "problem slope that can't be mowed." Maybe the 49% grade (27°) confuses them about "which way is up" and they just give up there(?). Or maybe it's a "drainage" thing, since the rain runs off without soaking in - although the grass seems to stay wet even longer there.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 03:55 PM

Goodness leeneia, 'a weak plant'? Here, they have a long, tough taproot which breaks off when you try to extract it. Even a tiny bit left under the ground produces a new dandelion plant next season. One seed head produces dozens of airborne seeds which germinate rapidly. If left unmolested in a lawn they cover it and there's no more grass, just dandelions. I've had dandelion wine, which tasted like cats' wee (not that I make a habit of drinking cats' wee!) but the leaves are quite nice, a bit spicy and crunchy. Here in the East of UK we have quite bad droughts, but the old dandelions don't mind it a bit. I still like these jaunty yellow flowers though. They just have to be kept under control a little. I've always known the name Queen Anne's Lace for cow parsley. My fav. weed is the Giant Hogweed, which grows enormously tall. The juice is toxic and causes skin blistering, but the soft idiots nowadays, who issue 'warnings' about almost everything, haven't the sense to admire but not touch, and insist on destroying them.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 03:40 PM

Last summer was a terrible time for us in Missouri and in many other places. Hot, hot weather and very little rain. This year is much better, but we are feeling the after-effects by seeing very few butterflies.

The night isn't as noisy with the sounds of insects, either. I hope that populations will rebuild. Insects lay millions of eggs, after all.

I like to grow plants that support butterflies and other interesting insects.

About dandelions - I'm not a picky gardener, but my place has almost no dandelions. They are a weak plant, and removing them really does work. Since they are an invasive Eurasian species for me, I have compunction about killing them.

I once tried tender young dandelions greens in a salad. They tasted like weeds.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnu
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 01:40 PM

Thanks r1. m nailed it as Hawkweed. Hmmmm... want me ta send ya some, Bobert? Must make ya soar.

"non-toxic way to get rid of them" I used to use an old triangularly shaped carving knife taped (duct tape, of course) to a broom handle and it worked a treat without the $ of one a them there step-on weed pullers. After my chemically inclined neighbours expressed their disdain (one said extremely sarcastically, "Nice crop of weeds you have there."), I like using fertilizer and, as I said, letting the pretty little bastards go to seed. So much so that I have to vacuum the screens in my windows and doors. Evil... ain't I? >8-D

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 01:32 PM

Try some dandelion as an addition in a green salad. Or cook some along with spinach. A nice taste addition.

I remember "wine" made from the blossoms.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 01:15 PM

Where Have All the Dandelions Gone? The little bastards pop up in my front yard by the dozen. I don't use weedkiller, so if anyone knows of a non-toxic way to get rid of them, please tell me.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 10:18 AM

Queen Anne's Lace/Cow Parsley is also Wild Carrot. If you've ever pulled one up, you know why. Apparently the roots are edible, but they must be difficult to clean.

I have yet to eat Dandelions, although I've had Dandelion wine.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 10:09 AM

A host of names for dandelions in English, let alone other languages. Here's a list I found. (And the Botanist Latin name is Taraxacum, which I rather like the sound of. It sounds like an exotic destination in an adventure story.)

Common names: Dandelion, Common Dandelion, Lion's Tooth, Blow Ball, Puffball, Cankerwort, Monk's Head, Priest's Crown, Fairy Clock, Peasant's Clock, Doonheadclock, Fortuneteller, Irish Daisy, Swine Snort, Pissabed.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: maeve
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 08:08 AM

The present yellow dandy-type plants are likely Hawkweed, gnu:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieracium_caespitosum

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 07:48 AM

Are there not a few varieties of this plant, some that bloom earler and some later?

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: ranger1
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 06:15 AM

Dandelions are single-stemmed, gnu. Take me a picture and I can probably figure it out for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnu
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 06:08 AM

I like to let the first crop on my lawn go to seed. Meself and the bees think they are pretty. I am not sure what the present weeds, which resemble dandelions because they are yellow but single stemmed and the stem is tall and of "regular structure", are called but the bees reeeealy like em. I mow them down on Mum's lawn but wait until the grass on my lawn threatens to cause mower clog. Besides, my neighbour has a beautifully lanscaped property with an "immaculate" lawn. Each blade of grass is identical... and chemical. I think it's an ugly of the vilest kind.

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: JennieG
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 04:43 AM

Into my front lawn.......

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 03:53 AM

Aaaaaaahhhhh! Apologies, Michael. In my dotage I'm finding lapses of concentration, attention and comprehension are becoming more and more frequent! Or, as Homer would put it - D'oh!   :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Where Have All the Dandelions Gone?
From: gnomad
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 03:32 AM

Not quite in anybody's language, to the French they are les pissenlits (apt, when considering their diuretic effects)

I don't recall any shortage this year here in the UK, and they don't seem much affected by annual variations in climate so maybe chemicals are he culprit.