Dandelions and Bees and me

 Singing the praises of these beautiful and abundant (where we let them be) plant. Here's a chart bestowing the nutritional benefits from the leaves:

1 cup raw	Vit. A Daily Value	Vit. K Daily Value	Calcium Daily Value	Iron Daily Value
Dandelion Greens	2712 IU 54%	151 mcg 188%	103 mg 10%	1.7 mg 9%
Broccoli	581 IU 12%	89.4 mcg 112%	41.4 mg 4%	0.6 mg 4%

 From the University of Maryland: Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Its leaves are often used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas. The roots can be found in some coffee substitutes, and the flowers are used to make certain wines.

In traditional medicine, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. Native Americans also used dandelion decoctions (liquid made by boiling down the herb in water) to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and stomach upset. Chinese medicinal practitioners traditionally used dandelion to treat digestive disorders, appendicitis, and breast problems (such as inflammation or lack of milk flow). In Europe, herbalists incorporated it into remedies for fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea.

Today, dandelion roots are mainly used as an appetite stimulant, digestive aid, and for liver and gallbladder function. Dandelion leaves are used as a diuretic to stimulate the excretion of urine.

Dandelion may be used in a variety of available forms:

• Dried leaf infusion: 1 - 2 teaspoonfuls, 3 times daily. Pour hot water onto dried leaf and steep for 5 - 10 minutes. Drink as directed.
• Dried root decoction: 1/2 - 2 teaspoonfuls, 3 times daily. Place root into boiling water for 5 - 10 minutes. Strain and drink as directed.
• Leaf tincture (1:5) in 30% alcohol: 100 - 150 drops, 3 times daily
• Standardized powdered extract (4:1) leaf: 500 mg, 1 - 3 times daily
• Standardized powdered extract (4:1) root: 500 mg, 1 - 3 times daily
• Root tincture (1:2) fresh root in 45% alcohol: 100 - 150 drops, 3 times daily

Precautions:

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain components that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.

Dandelion is generally considered safe. Some individuals, however, may develop an allergic reaction from touching dandelion, and others may develop mouth sores. If you have an allergy to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, daisies, or iodine, you should avoid dandelion. In some people, dandelion can cause increased stomach acid and heartburn. It may also irritate the skin if applied topically.

People with gallbladder problems and gallstones should consult a health care provider before eating dandelion.

Thanks.

Borrowed (thank you) from  Wildflower News for June, published by the Edmonton Naturalization Group, Cherry Dodd.

Honey Bee Update.

I haven't seen many honey bees in the city yet. There were honey bees at the nursery garden plot feasting on the abundance of dandelions, but

 it's the bumblebees that have been hard at work in my yard pollinating my apple tree. 

People are probably getting tired of me saying that dandelions are such a wonderful source of food for bees, but the other day I found someone - an official state apiculturist, no less - who had the same point of view. The article, Relying on Dandelions, by Madeline Bodin, was in the Bennington Banner. Here is an except:

Vermont has never had a case of Colony Collapse Disorder.  Vermont’s patchwork of farms, fields, and forests means there’s usually something in bloom throughout the warm-weather months (to keep the bees well-fed and healthy.) In fact, providing honeybees with an important food source doesn’t require any effort at all, just don’t mow down your dandelions. As a non-native plant, dandelions are a weed by almost every definition, but honeybees are not native to this continent, either. Dandelions bloom early in the spring, when there are few other flowers. They are a vital source of both nectar and pollen at that time of year, when the bees’ food stores are at their lowest.

Will we ever get to the bottom of Colony Collapse Disorder?  "I don’t thing its ever going to come down to a few things,"

 says Steve Parise, who was once Vermont’s official state 

apiculturist and who still helps the state’s beekeepers in his job 

with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets.

 "We are looking at 10 different factors interacting with each other. The only cure, for now, is a healthier environment for bees, and for this important and welcome non-native species, that includes plenty of dandelions."

Madeline Bodin is a writer living in Andover.
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_18124935

Dandelion Blossom Tea

Since there are more than enough dandelions for everyone this year, here is my method of preventing some of them from going to seed.

Pick 5 or 6 dandelion blossoms (no stems), check for ants etc. and place them in a mug. Pour boiling water on them and let then steep for 5 minutes. Sweeten to taste and drink. This is a very mild tea, green tasting but not bitter. Dandelion tea is a great liver tonic.

I usually pick a year's supply and dry them on a screen. Once the blossoms have dried they can be stored in glass jars.

 

Dandelion Fritter recipe from http://www.learningherbs.com/dandelion_recipes.html 

• First of all I love gathering the dandelion flowers – just the tops for fritters.  They are easy to pick and so bright and cheery on a sunny day.  Usually, I want to pick more than I need, just because the gathering is so fun.  Do pick them in the sunshine when they are open, and when you have time to make the fritters right after gathering.
• Bring your basket of flowers inside, find a bowl, and mix together one egg and one cup of milk.  Stir in a cup of flour and your fritter batter is ready to go.  (If you like your fritters sweet you can add a little maple syrup or honey.)
• Now, prepare a skillet on the stove with gently warmed olive oil – keep it over medium heat. 
• Take one of the flowers and hold it by the greens at the base of the flower petals. Dip the petals into the batter and twirl until the flower is covered. 
• Drop it into the skillet, flower side down.  Continue dipping and dropping flowers, checking the first ones every once in a while to see if they are brown.  When they’ve lightly browned, flip them over and brown them on the other side.
• When they’re brown on both sides remove them from the skillet and drain the excess oil on paper towel. 
• For a sweet treat, drizzle them with maple syrup, honey, jam, or powdered sugar.  For savory fritters try dipping in mustard or adding some savory herbs to the batter.

A second method for fritter making is to pull the dandelion flower petals from the green base and add the petals to the batter.  Then you can cook them up just like pancakes.

Not only are the fritters delicious, the dandelion flowers are good for your heart.  Dandelion flower tea can help relieve pain from headaches, menstrual cramps, backaches, stomachaches and depression.  The rest of the plant (greens and roots) has nourishing, healing properties as well.  So, once you’ve fallen in love with the flowers, consider seeking out further information and enjoy blowing her white seeds and making your wishes, knowing that you’re spreading seeds of health throughout your neighborhood.