Day 152
After flowering is finished, the dandelion flower head dries out for a
day or two. The dried petals and stamens drop off, the bracts reflex
(curve backwards), and the parachute ball opens into a full sphere. When
development is complete, the mature seeds are attached to white, fluffy
"parachutes" which easily detach from the seed head and glide by wind,
dispersing.
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| Dandelion Seeds ~ top view |
"Some see a weed,
Some see a wish!"
Symbolism of the Dandelion Flower
Most modern admirers consider it a symbol of fighting through the
challenges of life and emerging victorious on the other side. Others use
it as a visual reminder of the sun's power, especially when depression
or grief makes it hard to stay sunny. |
| Dandelion Seeds ~ Side View |
Lately I have been using my macro lens on my camera as I head out to our local nature trails.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Jewels
"Dandelion in my hand
I've come to set you free.
In return won't you please
Grant this wish to me?"
S.A. Hall
Dandelions are a perennial and can live as long as thirteen years. The plant grows year round but goes dormant in areas that experience a cold winter. The dandelion taproot, thick, sturdy and dark brown, can penetrate the soil up to 10 to 15 feet. In arrived around the mid-1600s, as European settlers brought the common dandelion to eastern America and cultivated in their gardens for food and medicine. Since then it has spread across the continent as a weed. Everything, from the flower all the way down to the roots, is edible.
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