Hand-baskets ahoy

[jhetley]

Air temperature 55 F, wind northwest gusting over 20 mph, cloudy. Park is going yellow with dandelions, which will soon be shorn and shredded.

Comments

[halfmoon_mollie1]

they are one of the biggest 'pests', dandelions. People hate them, try to kill them, try to remove the root when they are dug up (I used to love to help my Dad, I had my own dandelion sticker when I was a teenager.) when the 'fluff' blows away it leaves the ugly stem sticking up in the middle of the lawn. But you know, on my morning walks once or twice I have seen the sunrise gradually illuminate a lawn full of dandelion fluff, and it is magical. It could almost make one believe the fairies dwell within. If one believed in fairies.

[jhetley]

They are anathema to the Perfect American Lawn. We like them.

On the other hand, I have been using my weed fork on some monster thistle crowns that the previous owners ignored. To each his/her own . . .

[halfmoon_mollie1]

As do I, and they are Bee friendly, something important.

Thistles are pretty, but perhaps not useful?

[jhetley]

These appear to be bull thistles, which are classed as invasive aliens. Not ideal lawn plants.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirsium_vulgare

[halfmoon_mollie1]

they grow round here and always did at the cottage. But in the woods, not out of the lawn.