There was a garden tool I loved when I was a very small girl. Although I liked watching the watering can sprinkle water and the edger cut a straight line, it was the long-handled dandelion digger that held the most fascination for me. And when my father died, I brought the one from his garage to my own home.

I recall stories my city-born mother told of a few of the older women in our small town digging up dandelions in the church yard. They brought them home for food. I had a hard time picturing a dandelion salad, but they didn’t. They were the original weed eaters!

I loved it when my little children would present me with a bouquet of dandelions. What a sweet gift! I would put them in a vase and place them on the kitchen table. But they were presenting me with something better than they or I knew!

I’ve since learned about the benefits of something many of us consider a weed. Besides containing vitamins and minerals, parts of the dandelion help support our liver, digestion, and blood sugar levels as well as lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Whaddaya know?

Maybe I’ll throw some dandelion roots in the oven to roast tonight! Maybe I’ll put a few leaves in my salad or make tea with the flowers!

I don’t suppose someone with allergies (ragweed or daisies or the like come to mind) should ingest them. And someone who takes a pill to lower cholesterol or one of the other benefits could encounter trouble by duplicating the purpose with dandelions.

Anyway, instead of spraying your yard with a poison to eradicate this weed (and maybe you if you ate it after it was sprayed), why not just dig it up and make a cup of tea?

Now  excuse me while I see if there’s any useful thing I can find for Creeping Charlie.

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