Weedy Green Thumb Sunday
It’s Green Thumb Sunday! Okay, it’s Monday and I’m pretending that it’s Green Thumb Sunday. It’s been a long weekend.
That said, here we go:
I know, I know. You’re thinking that I’m shirking my GTS responsibilities this week by posting a picture of a dandelion.
But this is the thing: my girls love dandelions. And this week, we were out gardening in the backyard. I was pulling weeds. Katie specifically asked me to leave the dandelions alone, so she could pick them. I did.
Later, a neighbor came over and Katie was purposefully explaining all of the “work” that she had done along with me, right down to the weeding. The neighbor saw the dandelions and said, “But you need to get the dandelions. They’re weeds, right?” Katie was crushed. But in true Katie form, it was only for a moment. You see, she likes dandelions. She thinks they’re beautiful. And as far as she’s concerned, you can call it a weed all day long, that doesn’t detract from its beauty.
So, she went about collecting more from the yard. She had a huge bunch in hand, which she put next to me. “Mommy,” she said very matter-of-factly, “Hold onto these lion’s teeth.” And she flashed me a huge grin. She’s very proud of herself for knowing the translation of the name; Chris speaks German and told her that’s what it means.
And for those of you who dismiss the dandelion simply as a weed, you’re wrong (despite that horrible lawn commercial on TV where the woman says, “Dandelions are the enemy”). Dandelions can be eaten (dandelion greens are yummy in a salad, we eat them quite a bit, relatively speaking) and they’re very nutritious. Down South, they use the flowers to make wine. I’ve never had it, but how can you not like a plant that can be turned into wine?
Anyhow, I know there are those of you staring with contempt at my little dandelion. But my family kind of likes it. And that’s what makes it a GTS entry.
April 30th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Katie is right. If she likes dandelions, they aren’t weeds to her. A weed is a plant growing where you don’t want it. I have a neighbor who likes to tell me various things growing in my yard are weeds. I don’t know what they are, but so long as they are colorful, I enjoy them.