Existential Gardener

10 Reasons Dandelions Aren't Weeds at Our House

    

     Dandelions have a bad reputation for being ugly, yellow islands in a sea of pristine green grass.  But the dandelion has had a long life before Western civilization decided to prefer the useless blade of grass to crops and useful, ground covering herbs.  Our decision to love our dandelions has made our chemical company loving neighbors a bit upset, but we have many reasons for standing firm and letting the salad green type of dandelion grow.  Below are ten of our most used arguments:

1.  Dandelions are easy to grow and easy to harvest.
     As evidenced by their abundance in the yard, it's easy to see that dandelions are easy to grow.  Additionally, since virtually every part of the dandelion is edible, there is really no trick to harvesting them:  just pull them out, give them a wash, and enjoy.

2.  Dandelion seeds are free.
     Although you certainly can purchase the seeds, your yard will provide you with what you need to set up several rows of dandelions.  (Just be certain to identify the salad variety first.)

3.  Dandelions have Vitamin A, potassium, and antioxidants.
     These presumed weeds contain more Vitamin A than carrots.  A simple internet search will reveal that they have been used worldwide as supplements for many centuries.

4.  Eating them can have a diuretic effect and can aid in digestion.
      Dandelions have also been called "Wet -the-Bed" because of their diuretic properties.  As such, they aid in ridding the body of unwanted salts and help get rid of that feeling of fullness.

5.  Bees and butterflies love them.
     If you're interested in helping the struggling bee and attracting beautiful butterflies, leaving the dandelions alone or growing them in a controlled method is a good idea.

6.  Pests hate dandelions.
     Growing them may help repel army worms and flea beetles, among others.  Using a mulch of them will act as a trap crop to attract slugs away from your leafy veggies.

7.  Dandelions make good companion plants for breaking up hard soil.
    Dandelions, with their long, strong tap roots, help to break up the soil so that other plants and their roots can extend deeper and bring up nutrients.

8.  Dandelion wine and dandelion coffee.
     Both are excellent concoctions, and dandelion coffee is caffeine free.  Recipes are everywhere for both.

9.  Dandelions in salad are yummy.
      Although I wouldn't want to eat a salad composed strictly of dandelions, the peppery taste they add to your other salad greens is tasty.

10.  Dandelions are perennial or biennial.
       Depending on which kind you plant, you won't have to repeat the sowing process every time you want a crop of dandelions. 

    Dandelions definitely can be a welcome addition to your garden, but you must control the seed heads.  Otherwise, the dandelions will grow out of control.  Additionally, if you have any special medical conditions or dietary restrictions, it is important to check with a doctor or a medical professional before consuming them.  Some people are allergic to dandelions, and/or they can interact with certain prescription medications.  To harvest the best dandelions, cut them off at ground level and put an opaque cover over the roots (a flower pot will do the trick as well).  Wait a week, and then remove the cover and harvest the light colored leaves.  These tend to be tastiest and most tender.

See also: How Dandy is Your Salad? to assist with identification.

 

In Shock or Dead?: Patience is Required with New Plants

  

     So many gardening sites offer beautiful pictures of pristine gardens, complete with bursting blooms and succulent, ripening veggies.  For once we're taking the gloves off and showing you the seedy underside of the process.  The pictures today won't wow you; you won't want to share them for their beauty.  But the pictures are important because plants some novice gardeners might see as dead, are just in shock, and they might stay that way for quite awhile until one morning you wake up and BAM!, they're fine. 

     Above is my first specimen, my mother's Shasta Daisies.  Last summer she came over carrying a bucket full of ones she had separated from her garden.   I stuck them in the ground, and they looked dead.  Worse than dead actually, some of them were just tipping over.  For about two weeks it was touch and go.  And then they bloomed.  This year, I probably could separate some myself.  Each plant now has ten new ones.  Mom gave me more this year for a new bed in another part of the yard, and sure enough, as you can see, they look rather shaky.  They perk up in the morning, but by afternoon, they have curled at the leaves and tend to faint to the ground.  I am confident that by next summer, they will certainly look more like the established daisies below.

    Then there is the vinca.  In a fit a fear over snakes infiltrating her yard undetected, my mother begins every summer by pulling up dozens of vinca transplants.  She generously gives them to me (apparently my yard is impervious to snakes).  I can't stand to see any plant go to waste so I stick them in the yard anywhere that needs ground cover.  For about a month, they look sad and forlorn.   Neighbors will tell me that I need to water them or pull out the dead ones.  But I wait and soon enough, not only have the ones that were transplanted regained vigor, but they are also sending out tendrils all over the place.  The before and after pictures below demonstrate just how resilient (and somewhat invasive) the vinca can be.  Last year's one small vine has turned into quite a bunch.

     

     Sometimes the trick to gardening isn't about good dirt and fertilizer, sometimes all it takes is patience and faith.  Add that to your repertoire and you and and your garden will have done some growing.

How Dandy is your Salad?

     Like most gardeners, weeds (esp. dandelions) have a special place in my waste bin. But as I looked through catalogs this past winter I saw Dandelion seeds. At first I thought "Who in their right mind is going to buy weed seeds?", but then I read the description. Turns out they were special Italian heirloom greens dandelions. Not cool enough to get me to buy them, but still neat-o.

     Last week I was weeding the yard, looking at the weeds as I pulled them. It helps to be able to ID them, because some go into the salad bowl. In our side yard I came across these dandelions. In a cool photo op, here were a green type and a weed type dandelion growing next to each other. Soon the leafy, lettucy ones will be moved into a prepared space in the garden. They will require special care (mostly to keep them from taking over), but they will provide plenty of salad greens over the summer, and I think we'll try to force them like endive this winter. Not bad for the price of nothing.

DIY Mason Bee Homes: Using Recycled Materials to Create Bee Condos

 

If you have been paying attention to the news lately, there is an epidemic hitting our honey bee population.  Chemical, biological, forgetful or whatever the cause, beehives are turning up empty all over the country.  Empty hives often mean empty fields if no bees are there to pollinate the crops.
     Luckily, wild bee species will step in to do some of the pollinating for us.  One of the more optimistic looking bee populations is the Blue Orchard Mason bees.  A solitary bee with no true hive and a rosy disposition, they are supposed to pretty safe and kid friendly.  Give them a corner of the yard where their home won't get knocked or jostled, and they'll be fairly happy.
    As a gardener of Scottish descent, I am loathe to waste my money on a kit or on lumber to make a lavish home.  They are bees and don't care whether the hive matches my fence or my shutters.  No, instead I am frugal enough to reuse materials to create bee condos.
   The materials are enough to make McGyver proud:  String (optional), glue/paste (cheap), newspaper, and used tin cans (rinsed).  The tools:  a knife or scissors, ruler, and a 3/8" (9.5 mm) dowel or pencil at least as long as your can. 

Step 1: 
 Measure the paper to the length of your dowel or pencil and then cut or tear into strips.

Step 2:
 Wrap the newspaper around the dowel until you think it is thick enough and trim the extra paper.  Use glue or string (we used glue) to secure the roll and slip out the dowel. 

Step 3:
 Continue cutting and rolling until you have filled the can.  Don't worry if your paper straws are too long, that will be fixed shortly.

Step 4:
 Once you have a fairly compacted honeycomb shape, you'll know you're done.

Step 5:
 Remove all of the paper rolls and crimp the ends to the appropriate length (just a little shorter than your can).  If you would prefer, you can cut them.

Step 6:
 Refill the can, crimped edges first.

Step 7:
    Decorate if you would like and place outside where the wild bees can fill their nests.  Connect several together or place separately.

Spring Ramblings in the Garden in Pictures

Fortunately, yesterday was that kind of perfect spring day that I remember from my childhood.  It was just warm enough to bare your arms, but still had a reasonable chill.  So my camera and I took a walk and found the flowers had put on their best for St. George's Day.

The first picture is the narcissus that my grandfather planted about thirty years ago.  There was a gentle breeze and the showy little things were flirting about.

I couldn't pass up a close-up.  It's no wonder they are named after a mythological character who couldn't stop looking at himself.

The wild violets have taken over in a shady spot in the corner of the garden.  To me they are like a free gift that I didn't know I needed but I surely can't do without.

 
The only pink so far in this bed, this little tuplip seemed like a strumpet surrounded by the narcissus.

These are the pansies I planted last year.  At the beginning of March they looked like miniature versions and now they have mounded up and are giving us false hope that they are here to stay.

Even when the vinca doesn't have flowers, I love the shade of green that the leaves have. 

More ramblings to come.  Today, I head to the country to try to catch spring there before the summer heat pushes her along.