What’s the deal? Where did all this dandelion hate come from for a plant that adds nothing but value and fun to our otherwise earth-sucking grass lawns?
I personally find them delightful. I eat some, I dry some for salves and soaps, and I give some to my bunnies, but I leave plenty of those bright, lovely sunshine heads for the early pollinators who need them. The roots make a lovely tea, but I tend to leave those. They do so much for the dirt with their super-long, soil-aerating taproots.
According to WebMD, dandelions help with the following:
- Can help control blood sugar
- Acts as a diuretic
- Can lower mild blood pressure
- Reduces inflammation
- Bolsters the immune system with antioxidants
- Preliminary studies indicate they can help lower cholesterol
If all this doesn’t move you to just get to liking dandelions, that’s fine, too. Go dig them up and be done with it. But please, please, please don’t use RoundUp or anything like it. Our bees are taking such a hit from these harmful chemicals, and we need them. I mean, we really need them. When the bees go, we’ll be right behind.
So save your time, save your dollars, and help our planet. I say, let them bee!
Previous dandelion rants available here: