There are a lot of reasons to love dandelions, despite the fact they often get a bad reputation. They are one of my favorite signs of spring and I really look forward to their pretty yellow flowers dotting my lawn. My kids can’t wait to make wishes as they blow the seed pods. Dandelions aren’t just for fun, they also are beneficial in the garden. They are dynamic accumulators, which means they draw up nutrients that are deep in the ground and make them available at the surface for other plants. This also means they have fantastic nutritional benefits as well, in fact I try to drink a dandelion tea every morning to take advantage of some of their awesome benefits.
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Just in case you need a little more convincing, here are 27 reasons to love dandelions.
- They are pretty
- Goats love them
- Chickens love them
- High in iron
- High in vitamin A
- Rabbits love them
- High in calcium
- You can make wishes
- They keep the kids entertained and mostly quiet while blowing
- Reseed themselves
- High in vitamin C
- Suppress weeds
- Prevent erosion
- Hold moisture in the soil
- High in copper
- High in vitamin B
- Make a great green mulch
- High in vitamin D
- Feed the bees
- High in potassium
- High in zinc
- The milk or sap treats fungal infections on the skin
- High in antioxidants
- Beneficial for gallbladder and liver
- Lowers blood pressure
- Great source of fiber
- Attract pollinators
If you need more reasons to love dandelions, check out these articles:
Dandelion and Violets, Oh, JOY! from Pixie’s Pocket
Dandelion, The Dandiest Weed of All from Herbal Academy of New England
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Lily
Friday 19th of May 2017
I LOVE dandelions! they are so pretty and so valuable a healing herb (all parts: root, leaves, blossoms) and healthy food for humans and animals. when I was a kid, we would gather them and make long yellow garlands that we would hang over fences and gates or garage doors to decorate them (of course our floral creations didn't last long as they wilt pretty quickly but, nevertheless, it was so much fun. And of course blowing them when they turned fluffy was always sooo much fun!
Kathryn
Tuesday 23rd of May 2017
Yes, my kids love blowing them the best, but they are so fun!
tessa
Friday 29th of January 2016
How are these weirdos who dig out their dandelions! Free food is free food, y'all.
Kathryn @ Farming My Backyard
Saturday 30th of January 2016
I know, right! :)
Andrea
Saturday 24th of January 2015
I have had a love affair with dandelions for a long time now! I cringe to think I ever sprayed the lawn to get rid of them. Now each spring and early summer I relish them. :)
Kathryn @ Farming My Backyard
Saturday 24th of January 2015
They'll be here soon!
Rebecca | LettersFromSunnybrook
Monday 28th of April 2014
I was just outside picking some with my son and teaching him about foraging. Going to try cooking them now.
Kathryn
Monday 28th of April 2014
Awesome! I hope they turned out well.
Christine @ Once Upon a Time in a Bed of Wildflowers
Monday 28th of April 2014
I love dandelions. Plus you can make wine out them, and I have heard jelly, too! :)
Delight Blount
Thursday 15th of May 2014
I've made Dandelion Jelly for quite a few years now. It's delicious! Tastes like honey and is a lovely translucent yellow. It requires a lot of work gathering the blossoms, but is totally worth it.
Kathryn
Monday 28th of April 2014
I've heard that too, although I haven't tried doing either yet. :)