If I look around enough, I feel as if I could find a dandelion blooming any time of the year. As the first day of spring approaches, they are starting to bloom and soon they will blanket vacant lots, the sides of roads, untidy alleyways, parts of unmown lawns, my garden, and along some of the trails out at the arboretum.
The flowers are bright, yellow bursts that attract many insects looking for pollen and nectar. They are edible and on occasion, I have made little fritters from them. I have also made dandelion wine from the flowers too. The leaves are edible and nutritious. The root can also be roasted and ground to make a hearty beverage.
The reason I set out to make this post was to show you that the flower stalks are hollow and if you pick the flower, the stalk will ooze this milky, white substance. This is one of the characteristics that help you identify them.
Also, keep an eye on this plant as it forms its seed heads. They attract lots of birds like juncos, sparrows, and goldfinches. Last spring I was on the campus of Oregon State on a cool, blustery day and watched goldfinches all around campus foraging on dandelion seeds. There were small patches throughout the landscape that had escaped the groundskeepers. One of their superpowers is being able to duck under a lawnmower! Dandelions rock!
