This is just silliness - sorry, but the dandelions are getting the better of my turf and I am getting a little obsessed. I do not use glycophosphate or 2,4-D on my weeds and never will; I use vinegar, and it works pretty well, though it does tend to kill off the grass. I'll never give up on my dandelions -- I have enough to supply the world. But the point is, you actually CAN eat them
THE DANDELION IS KING
Though we dug them out and sprayed ‘em
And we mowed ‘em into shreds
We were powerless to dissuade ‘em
From filling up our beds
They doubled and quadrupled
And it was the cruellest thing
Oh, when it comes to weeds, I swear
The dandelion is king
Yes, we gave ‘em glycophosphate
But they came back anyway
So we poured the vinegar on straight
(The grass died right away)
We weren’t stingy with the 2,4-D –
It hardly did a thing
For when it comes to weeds, indeed
The dandelion is king
No, they were impossible to beat
We reckoned we were foiled
Until we learned that we could eat
‘em finely chopped and boiled
We sautéed ‘em and we fried ‘em
And they added quite a zing
For when it comes to freebies, well
The dandelion is king
Now we gather them in bunches
As their tender leaves emerge
And they feature in our brunches
And we’re mighty proud to serve
the weed that used to drive us wild
Yes, now we welcome Spring
For when it comes to salad greens
The dandelion is king
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Ah, the old lion's tooth...
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 8th November 2006 |
Did you know that? The name comes from French "dent de lion" because of the leaf shape.
Yes you can eat them, if you want to wake up with your jammies wet - we used to call them "pee-the-beds" - apparently they do contain a diuretic.
Keep up the organic weed control - you have my seal of approval on that score.
Oli |
Now ...
Written by patterjack (1179 comments posted) 8th November 2006 |
that as long as you don't take it as an insult , is an effort worthy of one of our better Oz Bush Balladists !
They had the swing , the touch of humour , the appeal that made them highly popular in our early literary magazines and newspapers . I should send you a couple -- if you can write this so well I think you might enjoy them !
And my Greek son in law and his compatriots kept them out of the Tanilba Bay lawns by garnering them for salads .
Tickled me no end !!! More ! More ! More !
patterjack |
Look -
Written by Josie (2780 comments posted) 9th November 2006 |
Your poem was absolutely lovely. The dandelion is only classed as a weed because it is so good at reproducing, but when you actually look at them (away from your garden, of course, they are lovely). Witzl, I think that you, and the others who love your poem, might like to see lots of lovely poems about dandelions on this website: http://fohn.net/dandelion-pictures/poetry.html#cornwell
It might inspire a few more of us to write poems about our natural flowers. Perhaps you could send this website your poem also to add to the collection. |
Thank you, everyone
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 9th November 2006 |
Right -- next I think I'll tackle creeping buttercup. Then, I'll do purslane, then dock weed, then Montbretia. . . by which time my garden will be so overrun with weeds, I'll just have to plow it all in and returf it. . .
My father told me about the 'lion's tooth' story way back when, though he managed to mangle the French pretty badly.
I will look at that website, Josie. As much as I want fewer dandelions in my garden, they are still an amazing flower. As tenacious and hardy as cockroaches, though more aesthetically pleasing -- and useful. |
Written by Phil (6683 comments posted) 9th November 2006 |
Lked this Witzl. Do you think the same method would work for slugs too? Little buggers eat everything.
All the best,
Phil. |
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3331 comments posted) 10th November 2006 |
Wonderful poem, with wit,rhyming, structure and clarity.It's so nice when I can understand and enjoy a poem
cheers
BBS |
great stuff Witzl
Written by fellpony (1603 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
I too have enjoyed eating dandelions - we used to make wine from the flower heads, and if you plonk the roots in a bucket and stuff it in a dark cupboard you get blanched heads rather like chicory (which is another tenacious daisy just like the dandelion). As a kid we made tattoos by pressing the juice from the flower stems onto our skin, then dusting the latex with the pollen.
I don't mind them too much in the garden though I chop most of them off at ground level with a pocket knife - and in April and May when the roadsides and meadows are brilliant with them, I enjoy looking at them too.
Oh yes, and it's a fine ballad, as PJ says! |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
| Thank you, Sue. I've just been out in the garden today and it looks like we'll be doing okay for salad greens this year too. |
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