It’s New Years eve right where I’m sat at the moment. Well – more specifically it’s New Years Eve Afternoon. I’ve a bunch of tasks I’d like to do, but on the whole, what’s more important when I have those pesky little tasks to do other than write another blog post?
It’s been over 6 months since I wrote anything on here. I think I need to decide to actually use it – rather than just writing a random (but hopefully thought provoking) post every new years eve…
The main point of writing though, is all a matter of perspective.
For example, what’s your first reaction to this little plant?
Weed? Little bugger, where’s the Roundup? Or other chemically or similarly nasty option..
Or maybe even worse… does this send you screaming for the hills?
They’re just so prolific! All it takes is one of these little darlings to pop up and then, before you know it you have drifts and drifts of sunny yellow flowers, and then fluffly little puffs.
Like them or loathe them it’s all a matter of perspective. Yes. Pesky Perspective. As Anton Ego calls for in the film Ratatouille.
Hmm. Well, thinking about it, I am a little bit biased towards these plants so perhaps you won’t find well-seasoned perspective here. But definitely a different one.
Did you know – 5 fun facts about Dandelions! (It’s actually REALLY difficult to pick just 5…)
- Up until the 1800’s, those who were lucky enough to have gardens with lawns would pull up the grass and sow dandelion lawns instead? (as well as other useful plants such as chickweed, malva and chamomile).
- The dandelion flower opens in a morning to greet the sun, and closes at night when the sun sets.
- Every part of the dandelion plant is useful. The roots, the leaves, the flowers – every.single.bit. For using as food, medicine and even used as a source of dye.
- Slightly related to fun fact number 3 – did you know you can make Dandelion Wine? If you didn’t you should make some. Just be prepared to give it about 5 years and it’ll be like sweet sherry!
- The dandelion flower has the longest flowering season, which means it helps provide nectar for the early and late bees and insects at either end of the growing/flowering season.
There are so many vitamins and minerals associated with this plant it’d take me forever to write them all out. So, instead I’ll link to this video on Youtube from “Learn your land” who loves dandelions as much as I do..! (Yes I’m cheating but I’m on a time limit for writing this!)
More than this though – do you not remember running round a garden or park as a child blowing the seeds asking the dandelion clock what time it was with each puff of breath?
Or running around the garden trying to catch a “fairy”? (Or otherwise known as a dandelion seed (singular..!).
See? It’s all a matter of perspective.
Did you also know this flower resembles all three celestial bodies? The bright yellow flower the sun, the silvery seed head – the moon, and the individual seeds themselves the stars? (Another bonus fun fact there!).
Yes, its fair to say that I’ve a bit of a soft spot for these little plants. Dandelions for me are associated with losing Little Spark, but I cannot deny how cheerful and sunny I feel when I see these wonderful yellow flowers. Or ignore the wonder at seeing the dandelion clocks bobbing in the wind. Or the mystery of just how far the seeds will travel when taken by the wind… (or dispersed by the children!).
And my favourite song ever reminds us of the other magical purpose of dandelion clocks – to blow and make a wish.
[Spoken]
Hold your breath, make a wish
Count to three[Verse 1]
Come with me and you’ll be
In a world of pure imagination
Take a look and you’ll see into your imagination
We’ll begin with a spin
Travelling in the world of my creation
What we’ll see will defy explanation[Chorus]
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world?
There’s nothing to it[Verse 2]
There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there, you’ll be free, if you truly wish to be
I think this past year has been a struggle for me because I have found it difficult to remember my magic. My own unique was of looking at things. To look at things and see the simplest of actions, and be reminded that magic happens without forcing things.
Yet another life lesson from the dandelion seed – it sprouts in the harshest of conditions, everything wrong for it, and yet it thrives and spreads food, (medicine), life, nutrients – and a smile, wherever it goes.
Perhaps it’s not a “usual” thing to have for a tattoo. But from my perspective I think this makes a fabulous tattoo. And a hand-poked one at that. Didn’t it – Hannah-Rose?
Thank you – by the way. I love it more and more each day. And I love how the kids come up to me to grab my arm and make a wish whilst blowing on it!