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Grace Lewis-McLaren's avatar

Dandelions were The Flower for the U of Rochester. You might say they were lionized! We had Dandelion Days set aside to pay tribute. So I want to pay tribute to Cory Booker who was a lion as he stood and delivered for all of us. Thank you reminding me, Sylvia, with your encouraging words.

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

I love dandelions, and the whole idea of Dandelion Days sound just right to me!

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Maryli Tiemann's avatar

Ablaze with dandelions creates a brilliant image

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

Doesn't it? They are so bright and cheerful!

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Maryli Tiemann's avatar

And one I hold dear as a significant change in my life.

I used to spend good time digging up dandelions in our yard, thinking they were “weeds.” But weeds as my pal, Jenifer says, “ Are just flowers where you don’t appreciate them.”

And somewhere along growing I was made aware these flowers are an early source of pollen for our honey bees. And my neighbor across the street has bee hives. So gradually I let the dandelions make our yard a blaze of yellow. Now… I attempt to go and cut their flowers as they change from flower to seed, so our neighbors won’t have to deal with dandelion seeds growing in their yards.

I figure, both acts are aware and compassionate.

There is a metaphor as I see it. I might change my actions again some day. I might be more militant to allow the breeze to seed the whole neighborhood. But right now our lawn is the one with the Blaze of Dandelions.

Oh, and White Clover and Violets and some creeping flower, too…

Thanks for sharing your experience with making good trouble. It was good to be on our commons altogether. I heard others saying it made them realize they weren’t alone in their thinking. That surprised me. It never occurred to me that others couldn’t feel or see the truth of our cause. Dandelions are hardy, strong, and grow well in our soil. Don’t they?

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

Your lawn sounds a lot like mine. We have lots of flowers in it. We actually don't do anything to it other than mow it now and then, so it resorts to whatever grows naturally around here. We prefer that to the "perfect" green carpet people so often try to achieve.

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Katy Wood's avatar

Bravo💜. Well said Sylvia.

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

Thank you, Katy!

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