Dandelion

Isn't that beautiful? We just dig 'em up chuck 'em out, its as pretty as any button chrysanthemum.

hiya amy, i was watchin a tv program last month and this lady used dandelions in her salads and soups she made a drink too and like janey said we just dig them up and throw them away, remember when rocket was a weed now youve got to buy it.sorry rambling on, nice pic though :-)

Yes I always have thought they are as pretty as any cultivated flower ,
As children we were told that if we picked Dandelions we would wet the bed , I don,t think we dared risk it..... lol

Following on from what Lyd said, my mother sais she used to make sandwiches of Dandelion leaves when she was a little girl. I've never tried it though.

We use dandelion leaves in salads. Don't squirm, you should try it - you'll be pleasantly surprised ...

O.k Terry60 , I,ll give it a go , iv,e tried most other things including stinging nettles :D

Yep Amy, even stinging nettles! Do you know they make a good (and healthy) risotto

I've heard of people boiling sting ing nettles. and also of people drinking the boiled nettle water. Don't know if I'd like it.
Once I remember buying dandelion coffee. It was very nice - not as bitter as ordinary coffee which I'm not that fond of.
Best wishes, H.

Thanks Terry60, I,m all for trying natures store cupboard ,
I make stinging nettle tea , it is very good for muscle pain , it,s full of
Vit c / Iron
I pick the young nettles in the spring , carefully dry them in the micro wave , when they are quite dry I put them in a plastic bag , scrunch the bag up , hey presto , you have tea leaves .
Be very careful with the drying , I recommended this to some one who turned the micro wave on high then left it to long and it burst into flames ,
I put the bags in the freezer for winter use .
not a nice taste at all but you get use to it , i,m positive that it did me a lot of good .

Thanks for info Amy. I shall certainly try it. I wonder if my basel would dry in the same way in the microwave ?? I usually sun dry it, for winter use in soups and sauces - but sometimes it flies all over the place when the wind blows !! (it doesn't seem to dry as well if I put it in a protective net ...).

Another remedy my mother used to give us when we were children for yukky tums or sore throats was to boil a bay/laurel leaf with some lemon peel for a few minutes. Add a little honey and drink it nice and hot. It so soothing and pleasant you don't really need the excuse of tummyache to enjoy it. . . . it smells nice too.

I used to make a liquid feed with the stinging nettles. Just put a few stalks in a bucket, cover with water and leave for two or three weeks till it smells. Dilute to use as a feed. I think the dandelion is a diuretic, hence the wetting the bed old wives' tale!

I have done that Janey , you are right about the smell , it,s awful , it does make good fertilizer though !