Dandelions

Yesterday yellow sunshines decorated the grass,

though most all of my neighbors think they are truly crass

for they try killing them with everything available, as if they could,

causing allergy problems and air pollution in my neighborhood.

Today the grass is full of parachuted blow balls,*

yellow sunshines gone to seed which the wind sprawled,

making a zillion times a zillion more seeds

which in turn populate my yard each year with weeds.

Not only in the yard, but also in flower gardens.

These blow balls are not discriminating, beg pardon.

No matter which direction you look,

next year dandelion blossoms will poke.

The ones in the vegetable garden are the largest.**

I dug out today before my brother, who’s eldest,

comes to plow the garden this year.

He likes to have the plot cleared.

I am reminded of my grandmother

who liked dandelion greens for dinner.

It may have been her secret to long years

as she almost made it to 101 years.

You can order dandelions for dinner

if you happen to visit Lancaster.

You could also order seeds to plant,

but I won’t be doing that?

Today I broke the dandelion digger

as I weeded out dandelions, go figure,

for underneath the sod

are stones which make work hard.

Doesn’t it seem quite ironic, though,

that seeing the first dandelion blo

is a most welcome sign each spring.

Do you find yourself thinking the same thing?

*A blow ball is the downy, fluffy seed head that forms after a dandelion blooms. The scientific term for the structure of the blow ball is "pappus." (Copied) It does bring a smile to my face to watch children blow dandelion blow balls. Do they realize they are planting seeds?

** The vegetable garden’s soil is the richest, most fortified with organic materials. I use dried leaves which provide the same nutrients as 10-10-10, plus other essential minerals. Egg shells (calcium) and Epsom salts (magnesium) fill the tomato patch row.

* * * * *

For every negative

there’s a positive.

Though some consider dandelions unsightly,

dandelions are also very healthy.

They’re full of vitamins and minerals

to keep one quite healthy and feeling well.

Dandelions also aerate the soil

which supplies calcium to enrich the soil.

Honeybees seek out dandelions for nectar.

Please don’t poison their food ambrosia.*

Regarding honeybee food, plant crocus’

to entice these welcome visitors to forage.

* Another word for ambrosia is “bee bread”

explained as honey or pollen used as food by bees.

Hope you learned something new too!

For every upside

there’s a downside.

Upsides are right choices.

Downsides are poor choices.

The right decision leads to joy and peace.

The opposite to discord or unease.

Choose blessings

vs. cursing.

Choose what’s beneficial

vs. what’s superficial.

Choose life

vs. death.

Death will eat away like a canker

as poor choices often hamper.

One’s happiness is tempered,

sometimes shown with a temper.

Heartache overcomes joy

as wrong decisions destroy.

Choosing life will satisfy

as God will daily supply

with blessings from on high

for God loves to multiply.

Seek what God desires.

Blessings will transpire.

I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse –

the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God

that I am giving you today;

the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God

and turn from the way that I command you today.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.

Now choose life, so that you...may live

and that you may love the Lord your God,

listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.

For the Lord is your life...

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

I will bless them.

I will send down showers in season;

there will be showers of blessing.

The trees of the field will yield their fruit

and the ground will yield its crops;

the people will be secure in their land.

They will know that I am the Lord...

Ezekiel 34:26

For more on bees, copied from Google: The Bible mentions bees as symbols of God's provision (honey in the "land flowing with milk and honey").

Honey was a staple when I was a child as my parents had hives, or supers, for honey bees. Mom made homemade yeast bread weekly turning one loaf into “monkey bread” sticky with honey. Honey was used to sooth a cough. Most of the (hive) frames were spun in jars, other frames were boxed into honeycomb. I remember Dad ate honeycomb. Just looked up benefits of honeycomb:

Honeycomb is a source of essential vitamins, including vitamin B, crucial for gut health. Raw honey in honeycomb acts as a powerful pre-biotic, feeding the gut microbiome and improving nutrient absorption. Additionally, the fiber content in honeycomb aids in digestion and helps regulate bowel movements. (Copied) My great Uncle David ate honeycomb before bed.

Be on the lookout for local honey: Buying local honey supports your community's economy and beekeepers, offers a fresher, more flavorful product unique to your region's flora, and may help with seasonal allergies by exposing you to local pollen, all while having a lower environmental impact than mass-produced, imported honey. It's often raw and unfiltered, retaining more natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals lost in commercial processing. (Copied)

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.