ode to the common

May 07, 2018 • 8 Comments

On this spring morning in the northern hemisphere, one thing is certain: somewhere, probably everywhere there isn't snow on the ground, dandelions are in bloom. When I searched them online this morning, subject headings and websites mostly lead the reader to sites with directions for destroying these native plants. To be fair, there are quite a few articles about their nutritional and health values as well, but I must say, I am guilty as charged of pulling them as soon as they bloom. This year, I decided to take a deeper look into these yellow jewels. Thus, today's blog is an ode to the common, but at the same time striking dandelion. In my search and getting on the ground and close up to photograph them, I saw stamens and pistils in addition to the petals and leaves.

Dandelion 2

Depending on the phase of a particular dandelion bloom, it can look almost like a different flower.

Dandelion 3

Kneeling and then almost laying down, I got these two shots. Pollen anyone?

Dandelion 1

The common dandelion almost looking like a sea anemone

Dandelion 4

I hope your explorations of our world lead to wonderful places this week!

until next Monday,

a passion for the image@

Keywords: blacks crossing photography, dandelions, daryl a. black, flowers, nature, new mexico, photography, taos, weeds

Comments

Larry Jones(non-registered)

Oh Daryl, these are lovely. The close-up is as good as it gets.

Ingrid Upton(non-registered)

You are the greatest observer. To make a dandelion flower look like a vision. Love it!

Wayne Gesterfield(non-registered)

Weeds never looked so good.

Dianne James(non-registered)

What special photos of the lowly dandelion; you even captured the pollen! They're the first food for bees in the spring, and critical for their survival. In the summer, I include the leaves and blossoms in salads. The whole plant, including (maybe especially) the root can be used as a diauretic and is proven to fight cancer. I cringe when I hear about someone pouring glyphosate or some other weed killer on them in order to have a "perfect" lawn. That stuff is tracked into the house and breathed in. Dangerous stuff. I'd bet the plant is probably used for other medicinal reasons, but in learning more about them, now they're much more than the seeds that children blow into the wind. Thank you for focusing on these little gems this week, Daryl. Your little yellow flowers have brightned my day. :)

peggy immel(non-registered)

I love this post Daryl and now will look with a fresh eye at our Dande Lions and may even pick up a paint brush. I think Jamie Wyeth did some wonderful paintings of dandelions.

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