Until I owned a house in New York, I had no idea that dandelions were weeds and considered bad. Growing up in the Bronx, I thought of dandelions as pretty flowers that brightened up abandoned lots. I had no idea what weeds were. What’s a girl growing up in a concrete jungle suppose to know?
When we bought our pretty yellow house in New York, I thought the dandelions were perfect compliments for our place. Then we started pulling them and teaching my son to take them away. Now, Crayola Crayons is going to send the dandelion color out to pasteur. It’s being retired. How on earth do colors get retired? Does a color cease to exist?
I haven’t really colored anything in a long time. I know there are now adult coloring books but I just have not gotten into them. Even with my stressful work weeks, I’ve yet to think a coloring book would help ease my pain or help me stress down. I would be more likely to take a bunch of dark crayons and strike through everything with a million strokes. Is there a coloring book where you are allowed to be angry?
But here is the thing (going back to dandelions as I have enormously digressed), dandelions aren’t bad. A dandelion is a beneficial weed. It adds minerals to soil, helps fruit ripen, and has generally throughout history been used for medicinal purposes. It helps treat liver problems and infections. It is even a natural source of rubber. Who knew? Well, apparently not many people as it gets no respect in the plant world. Nor does it get respect in the crayon world. For shame!
Sadly, it’s being replaced by some blue color. Don’t we have enough blues in the world right now? We could all use a little sunshine and a gardening companion. Dandelions are facilitators and enablers of good things. Let’s give that aspect some spotlight and let’s give it it’s due respect.
Categories: art, Culture, current events, Humor, mental health, Psychology
psychologistmimi 
I was thinking we already have too many blue colors also. I love the color blue, but I think we have more than enough. I always liked the dandelion crayon. It was the boldest and smoothest of the yellows and I think I’ll miss it. I actually do dabble in the adult coloring world, and I can honestly say, there is too much blue and not enough of everything else. Also, there are definitely “angry” coloring books! I even have a few where you color cuss words. It really is a great stress reliever, not to mention helps you pay more attention to detail and be creative.
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Reblogged this on donnamccoy628 and commented:
The dandelion are pretty wild flowers in the beautiful color of yellow and these wild flowers grow in abundance, they are not a flower of course that you can purchase in a store and bring home and plant in your garden, the dandelion should be considered a wild flower to be respected for the beauty of nature is why you see these plentiful pretty yellow flowers, people should enjoy thier dandelions as they kind of in a scenic view look like yellow pokeadots that decorated the grass and not worry about the dandelions being on your lawn because they have a short blooming life of this type of wild flower turn into a seedy white puff and blow away also this not wanted but famous little flower people should give recognition and acknowledgement to the dandelions for for the beneficial reasons of it’s help in the medical field the dandelions have taken in thier medical studies about the dandelions, one other amazing thing that i learned about the dandelions from my Grandmother when i was a young girl and we have done this together went out on the lawn where the dandelions grew at the very base of the dandelion stem where you can see that fanned out looking thick leaves that lie on top of the grass clip thoes leaves off and bring them in the house put them in a strainer wash them off thoroughly a few times, cook them in a semi boiling water till tender strain the dandelions leaves and in a frying pan add olive oil and a little salt and pepper for taste add your dandelions leaves and simmer them on a low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes then you can enjoy another important thing about the dandelions they are ready for you to eat, and i would imagine because this flower is used for medical reasons to know that you can cook and eat the leaves could be a beneficial thing for a person’s health.
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thanks for the reblog and for sharing your thoughts on and experiences with the dandelion. sounds like a beautiful history.
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Your very much welcome and it’s a pleasure to comment and write on your stories, i hope you have enjoyed the words i have written on your other intrest of topics.
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Indeed, always a pleasure!
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Thank you for your nice comment
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I recently learned that dandelions help fertilization and bees. Plus I love the color, so I keep this “weed.” I agree that we need more bright colors, and brightness in general, in this world.
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yes, isn’t that cool how they help with bees. I just learned that as well. Oh poor misunderstood dandelion.
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My mom drank dandelion tea when she found out she had cancer on her esophagus. It helped reduce inflammation allowing her to swallow without pain. She made it through, chemo, radiation, and surgery, wonderfully. I attribute her quick recovery and minimal side effects to her amazingly positive attitude and her dandelion, like disposition.
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I love dandelions & welcome them in my yard! We take them for granted, along with many other “weeds.” There are so many beneficial plants just growing we could harvest for wellness that just grow, and we try to kill and don’t utilize. Here’s to yellow & sunshine 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌻🌻🌻🌻
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I have always loved dandelions. They are so cheery. I’m not a big fan of yellow, but I agree that we’ve got more than enough blue in the world.
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Hey I read your blog n its quit good.
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What an uplifting post! I love the bright, sunny yellow dandelions. Our rabbits also love munching dandelion leaves. Thanks for sharing. I have just started a poetry blog here on WordPress in case you have time to look? Wishing you a good day, Sam 🙂
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A weed is but an unloved flower – Ella Wilcox (American poet).
The humble dandelion deserves much more respect than the average gardener gives it:
The Dandelion
Vachel Lindsay
O dandelion, rich and haughty,
King of village flowers!
Each day is coronation time,
You have no humble hours.
I like to see you bring a troop
To beat the blue-grass spears,
To scorn the lawn-mower that would be
Like fate’s triumphant shears.
Your yellow heads are cut away,
It seems your reign is o’er.
By noon you raise a sea of stars
More golden than before.
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