Dandelions have become a great source of consternation for me over the past few weeks. As I am adapting to my first Spring as a home owner, dandelions in my yard mean more frequent mowing, more rigorous hoeing in the flower beds as the dandelions sneak through the mulch, and more serious deliberation as I consider what to do with these pesky plants.
I’ve been trying to appreciate them for their inherent value. Their perky little yellow blooms can be cute. LL Barkat is teaching me that the greens can be served in salad, the stems chopped up as a garnish for soup, or the roots brewed into coffee. And dandelions can provide hours of entertainment for children (or am I the only one who, as a child, played “Charity had a baby and it’s head popped off” with dandelions in their white puffball stage?).
But when I drive by lush green lawns without a dandelion in sight or when I think about how the dandelions in my lawn actually are taking advantage of weak grass structure, I cringe. I know the anti-dandelion campaign is the result of group-think (“everybody” hates dandelions), but I can’t help wishing my yard were free of them.
So then my dilemma really begins. If I have my heart set on not having dandelions in my lawn, there are really only two options: spraying the lawn with chemicals or digging up each and every dandelion from the roots.
So for 15-30 minutes a day for three days this past week, I have taken a little gardening shovel, gotten down on my hands and knees, and begun the hard work. Friends have already teased me about this decision, and I have felt a little foolish imagining what the neighbors must think (that’s my suburban sensibility taking root!). But as I root around out in my yard, I am learning a lot about the life structure out there. I am finding areas of my lawn that need a lot of help, and I also am thankful for the areas where the grass already is thriving. And the great thing is, the 45 minutes or so I spent so far on this dandelion project have really made a difference.
My dandelion dilemma has actually become a metaphor for most of the things in my life I really want to do. In each case, there are usually a couple of options: taking the quick, easy way that irritates my conscience and has long-term hidden costs, or doing it the hard way, which seems right, but is going to take a lot of time and will require a lot of patience.
Also, like dandelions, the things in my life which need to be eliminated — everything from bad habits, to character flaws, to sin–are usually thriving in the places of weakness in my life. Just as any good dandelion strategy involves aggressive fertilization and seeding of the grass, so too these other areas of my life. As I put off sin, I need to sow seeds of obedience, creating new habits to replace the bad ones I am ending.
And when I’m out there digging, I can’t help but think about how this very process of slowly working my lawn into a healthy little ecosystem is having the same affect on my own life. In fact, just this evening, my dad was helping me think through a hard decision I had made that has been painfully slow in coming to a resolution. In all my whining, it sounded as if I regretted the decision. So he reminded me, “If it’s the right thing to do, then it’s right no matter how long it takes.”
You can bet that advice was dancing through my head as I dug those stems up from the root.
Half mom — Yes, that thing you said about the roots is what stands out to me each time I’m digging dandelions. They are so deep and cling so hard — just like the sin in our lives.
Spaghetti Pie — Can’t wait to see that picture. I could probably come up with a similar one from one of my neighbors. Hey, maybe Craver could start a covert lawn service and sneak into people’s lawns at night to rid them of their dandelions! Can’t wait to read that review!
Ted — Is a reel mower one that doesn’t have a motor and you kind of have to rock it back and forth to get it to start? I think those are awesome! And yet I sympathize with your plight to mow more than real grass. If my mower was so selective, I wouldn’t have to bother mowing. I have very little real grass!
LM — I’d love to see one of those centerpieces. A few dead dandelions could never stop those boys of yours! Maybe you could give them your little yellow trowel and teach them how to really “pick” the dandelions. I think your problem would be solved! Except there might be some topsoil in the centerpiece, though.
Stacy — The dandelion zapper sounds like a fantastic idea! And I sympathize with your troubles in finding someone to tag! I still have to come up with eight more!
Shlomo — Is there no end to our battle with technology! Thanks for the tip on Xanga!
A Musing Mom — Maybe the tool you’re thinking of is the weed hound that Craver mentioned. BTW, I’m going to play nice and respond to your tag. It’s just been a bit of a difficult week.
great insights as usual, and makes me look at my neighbor’s yard with a whole new perspective. (I’ll have to post a picture soon – it’s horrific. Craver, you’d be having nightmares). I always appreciate your thoughts, and I really loved the quote from you dad!
I think someone may have mentioned it, but another help for ridding yourself of the dandelions is to make the grass healthy and to cut it often so the dandelions don’t go to seed.
Also, I finally posted a review of Staub’s book on my blog.
It’s a toss up as to whether I’ve learned more spiritual lessons from “digging in the dirt” or raising my children.
I think the thing that always strikes me about weeding is the necessity to get the roots – long, slow and tedious work, but necessary for yard as well as spiritual weeds.
Charity — the boys found a cute stick in the backyard and made a centerpiece for our kitchen table out of a few sticks, some freshly picked leaves, and dandelions. It’s actually really cute. Every night after they go to bed, I throw the flowers and leaves away. In the morning, I explain that the flowers died, so they dutifully go outside to pick more!
Charity, Yes, my grass is taking off. I dont’ know where it went. I was out digging dandelions (not doing nearly that well doing it either, more like pulling and breaking them) and pulling out weeds.
I have a Scotts classic reel mower. Only trouble is that it mows real grass. That means I have to go over most spots repeatedly since the actual grass in my yard, especially in the front seems outnumbered.
Anyhow I was thinking of you this morning as I was doing this, and I know you would laugh if you could have seen it, and would have had kind words of encouragement and instruction for me.
OK, this is getting hard, because people are tagging people I need to tag! I’m afraid my 8 is whittled down to two.
Anyone know someone who needs to be tagged????
I use this long pokey gardening tool (I don’t know the proper name for it) that digs up the dandelions by the roots pretty quick. It’s tedious, but on a nice day at least it’s a way to get some sun and air. I have a hard time keeping the uber-princess from picking the ones in our yard for her bouquets (then how will I find them to yank out?). But we’ve got a nice field out back filled with them! : )
Btw, I’ve tagged you.
B”H
Hi Charity,
Yeah, I’m glad to be back, visiting your site that is. I upgraded to the lastest version of Internet Explorer and suddenly I have problems leaving comments here and there. It seems to be related to a pop-up blocker. Grrr. Too bad we can’t get some feature like this to work on the dandelions huh? Anyway, I thik I have finally figured it out and I will be much more regular at leaving comments.
RYC … If you want to leave a comment on my site, and I’d love it if you would, all you have to do is open a xanga account and be logged in. It’s just that simple and of course it’s free, unless one opts for Xanga premium.
Blessings,
Shlomo
Craver,
Speaking of flies, we have this great little gadget over here. It looks like a little tennis racket, has a battery inside, and you just swat and electricute flies and mosquitoes to your heart’s content. There is a feeling of vengence that comes with zapping them. It’s short lived, though, especially when the kiddos start zapping each other.
If they could only make something similar for dandelions….
LL — I can’t wait for you to share your sugared violet recipe (hint, hint!). I have violets everywhere. I don’t have nearly the aversion to violets that I have to dandelions!
Ted — Maybe this will be the year your grass really takes off! If not, digging dandelions is good exercise!
Craver — I’m glad you could vent a little of your dandelion frustration here! I have heard of the dandelion tool, which I may eventually cave in and buy. Right now, I’m avoiding the temptation of buying a specialized tool for every task when a simple garden spade will work! (Now that they are mapping the genes of all kinds of animals, maybe they can genetically engineer a little lamb who will eat only dandelions! HA!)
Charity, Now your yard looks good compared to mine (especially our front!!!). We have too much concrete (= heat) and sand in our ground. I put in soil and planted new grass a few springs ago. Oh well, maybe I’ll be following your example in weeding those dandelions.
Good analogy to our lives. We need to see things as projects to work on in our lives, I think.
Speaking of eating dandelions, we just made sugared violets and forsythia tonight. They’re supposed to store for up to a year.
Well. That’s the theory anyway.
(Okay, so we ate them in one sitting!)
I wasn’t finished.
I meant to say that I’d like to buy that tool (the weed hound).
It’s not so much that I hate dandelions, it’s that I love my grass. (Who am I trying to kid? I really do hate dandelions.) If I had laser vision, I’d use it on dandelions. And flies.
*deep breath*
Okay, I think I’m done for now.
Too bad we couldn’t train a little lamb to eat only dandelions and clovers! Of course, if it went after my grass, we’d be eating gyros at the next Craver block party.
There is a tool that you step on, and it goes a few inches straight down to pull out the tap root. It’s handy, because you’re aerating at the same time.
Andrea — I suspect that I will come to the point some day soon where I too can ignore them. (At least I hope!) For now, I’m waging a small battle with only my own strength as a weapon!
Margaret — Obviously you’ve encountered a dandelion or two in your day! Do you have dandelions in Alaska? (Is that as silly of a question as asking if you have refrigerators in Alaska? If so, sorry!)
Craver — I have to admit I was wondering what you might say to this post. I remember your extreme hatred of dandelions from an earlier post. Maybe I’ve found a middle road? I can only imagine what the neighbors would think of dynamite? I suspect they would prefer the dandelions!
Shlomo — So good to have you visit again! I will go read your post on weeds! I stop by your xanga site often, but so far haven’t figured out how to leave a comment! Hope you are well.
LL — As always, you are my source for all things natural! I am going to have a little munch on one of those dandelions before I toss it into the compost pile. Have you ever used any organic fertilizers on your lawn?
Stacy — Your comment reminded me of llama momma’s little boys bringing dandelion bouquets to their preschool teacher. And I’m sure your teacher meant her remark in the best of ways! What teacher wouldn’t love the kind gesture of a child.
Erin — Yes, I’m getting to know this lawn more than I ever thought I would want to! I am always so happy to discover and earthworm doing his part! And you’re right about my dad! I’m trying to convince him that he needs a blog of his own to pass some of his wisdom along!
LM — I envy the child-like view of dandelions I possessed so long ago. What do you do with your daily dandelion bouquets? If I remember correctly, they don’t last very long.
Dandelion–part delight part distress. 🙂
neat, Charity!
I just igore them and take comfort in the fact that my lawn is pesticide free.
I’d rather pull weeds from my vegetable garden. 🙂
B”H
Hi Charity,
I was greatly pleased to read this post of yours. I wrote about my own battle with weeds (mainly dandelions) nearly two years ago. Since that time we moved two blocks aways from a two bedroom apartment into a divided Victorian house. We lived at that previous location for almost 8 years. I worked on the dandelions and clover and various other weeds every Spring and Summer and a marked difference was noted by all our neighbors. We have now been in this new place for 1 1/2 years and I’m sort of starting all over again. Unlike yourself however, we don’t own this place, but nevertheless, I feel compelled to remove the weeds and I thoroughly enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing and don’t allow yourself to grow weary in well doing, for in due season you shall reap a ripe and rich royal harvest.
Blessings for peace and love,
Shlomo
PS: You can read the post I was referring to on my site dated June 5, 2005.
http://www.xanga.com/ps29v11
The little garden spade is cute. How about a nice pick axe and dynamite? Be sure to board-up your windows first…
Having that little spot of earth to work with actually does a lot more than give us green grass, doesn’t it? Being teachable gives us so many treasures.
I have a soft spot for those dandelions at the parachute phase. I used to pick them on the way to school and give them to my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Brown. At one point she looked at a fellow teacher and said, “She brings these to me EVERY morning!” I walked away feeling like a million bucks. Looking at it from the adult point of view now, that statement could have had a different meaning, but I’ll stick with my original impression. 🙂
Enjoy the fruits of your labor!
I see that the dandelion hasn’t fallen far from the…
Oops, I mean to say that I see where you get your wisdom from. What a great dad, with great insight!
Try just seeding, without fertilizing, since fertilizer also has those hidden long-term costs. And, in the meantime, I hope you enjoy those dandy lions. (Hey, if you bite the middle of the flower, you get a quick, sweet taste of nectar! More hearty types will eat the whole flower, but it can be a little fuzzy at the bottom!
I’m right there with you on the dandelion-filled yard. (And I have the very same little shovel for digging them up!) Good times.
Of course, my boys think they’re beautiful. They bring me bouquets every day, and tie ribbons around them to bring to their preschool teacher. (Who oohs and aahhhs appropriately.)
Charity,
I love the title to this post!
I also liked reading how you’re getting to know your lawn up close and personal while you’re out there with the garden spade. Surely it’s going to pay off in the next few seasons, as you learn where your lawn needs some TLC, and exactly what kind of TLC it requires.
Your father is a pretty sage guy. His words were apt- I need to write them down.