Dandelions, dandelions everywhere!

GRASONVILLE, MD – Tuesday morning - Look what popped up in my backyard (and front yard, and side yard) this week! Dandelions, dandelions everywhere! Do you have dandelions? If so, don’t you dare get out any weed killer!

Were you aware that of the top ten weeds in our lawns that nine of them are herbs? The tenth one is crabgrass and it is probably an herb also but they just haven’t figured out what it is good for yet!

Did you know that dandelions are one of the best herbs around? We have been taught to think of dandelions as pesky weeds but that could not be farther from the truth. Until the mid-1800′s dandelions were encouraged to grow in backyards so they could be easily harvested for treating a variety of ailments.

After a long winter of no fresh food (in the days before refrigeration) dandelion, with its high vitamin and mineral contents were, and still are, a wonderful spring tonic herb for the body. The dandelion is edible from top to bottom. Dandelions are good for the bladder, the spleen, pancreas, stomach and intestines. Dandelion removes warts, moles, pimples, calluses and sores and dandelion soothes bee stings and blisters. Those are just a few of the many uses for dandelion.

Also coming up in your lawn right now is plantain, chickweed, ground ivy and these are all wonderful herbs for the skin. It’s time to take time to think about what you are killing in your lawn that are herbs — not weeds!

So, as you are sitting outside and thinking “pesky weeds”, I invite you to think of the bounty of herbs that are growing and waiting for you to harvest. A ready made herb garden – what fun!. Happy herbing! >>Candace

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