Dandelion Myths and Uses

Dandelions are a gift brought to these shores by early French settlers, though the exact date is debated. Long adored as a wonder plant, they also became precious in that they could feed bees at a time when few or no native blossoms were out.

Tough as nails, they had survived months on ships to get here, could be eaten down to the ground and return, and put up with being trampled. Most glorious of all, they multiplied faster than bunnies. But as America drifted away from the home garden something happened. This once treasured plant got the mistaken name of "weed". Read on to learn the real history of the plant still adored by millions of people worldwide.

Yes that's my own intro photo, enjoy!

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Dandelions are weeds. No way! Dandelions are vital plants packed with nutrients that were brought over as precious food, dye, and household supply sources. Dandelions are not native to the US and most sources link them back to France.

Dandelions prefer wastelands. Where do people get these ideas? No, dandelions are happiest in rich fertile soil. Though they will happily grow anywhere, a good reason they were so prized by early gardeners.

They are useless weeds. Dandelions are super useful. You can make dye, tea, coffee, wine, a quick treatment for cuts, salad, paint; even I've heard, candy. They also improve, not degrade soil.

They are poison. No. This is something our newly-arrived ancestors passed down. Since they weren't sure what was safe to eat, kids were told everything was poison. You can eat all parts of a dandelion, though some parts are bitter.

The roots can run away from weeders. Sadly a dandelion can't move. What happens is that dadelions like other tubers can grow back from a tiddly bit of root, providing all the working parts are there.

1. Close your eyes, blow, and make a wish! If the whole puffball can be blown away, your wish will come true.
2. Make a crown of dandelions. This is a great offering for the fairy folk.
3. Offer an adult a yummy salad of clean dandelion leaves and violet flowers.
4. Want to know how many inches you will grow? Find the biggest danelion you can, carefully pick it, saving the whole stem. However many inches it is, that's how much you will grow.
5. Gently rub a dandelion flower on your chin or wrist. If you turn yellow, you like butter. Neat, huh?
6. Have mom or dad show you how to roast the roots for a natural coffee safe for kids.
7. Learn how to make a dye from the flowers.
8. Got a cut? The milk from the stem acts as an antiseptic.
9. Pick a bunch for an adult. Maybe a lonely person could use the cheer they bring.
10. If you can catch a floating puffball or seed, tell her all your secret wishes. Then puff gently to set her free. She will carry your wishes to the fairy kingdom.

A truly sweet children's book. Kids get to follow the life cycle of a dadelion, a great teaching moment if ever there was one about life and death. But the book isn't grim in the least. Kids and adults will be amazed at just how much a tiny seed has to face to get to be a big, beautiful dandelion.

Dandelions have a lot of magical uses. Some folks use them to promote abundance, others say they bring serenity to a spell. I've had the most luck using tough little dandelion in spells where the outcome seems hopeless. Always remember to thank our plant friends for being useful to us. This is not only the right thing to do, but the deva or spirit of the plant will be more inclined to help you reach your magical goals.

Filled with art, a pro-dandelion attitude, and magical uses for the plant. Of course some debate if this is Wiccian magic or whimsical non-magical person magic, but if it works, it works! Inspired by such books as Dandelions are Free, it is a great addition to any witches spellbook or lore collection.

The cadillac of dandelion books. Offers uses in cooking, cartoons, dandelion lore and more. A long-time favorite of dandelion fans everywhere, it is a must have for those cloesly linked to the belle of the fields.