Word of the Day
Dandelion (dan-duh-ly-uhn): A small yellow plant that everyone sees, but some view as a weed. Dandelions got their name from the French words dent de lion meaning "lion's tooth."
Bonjour!
I can't believe I almost got through the day without sharing today's unique holiday with you! April 5th is National Dandelion Day!
I've already told you a little bit about how the dandelion got its name, but if you look at the yellow flower even more closely, you'll see the jagged edges of its leaves do resemble teeth! What a clever name!
Some fun facts for you . . .
The dandelion's official name is Taraxacum Officinate.
Birds, insects, and butterflies consume the nectar or seed.
If caught by a gusty wind, a seed can travel 5 miles before reaching the ground!
Dandelion leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and are a good source of vitamins A, C, and K.
Dandelion root can be roasted to create a caffeine-free coffee.
It takes about 1 week for a dandelion to transform from a flower to a puff ball of seeds. This is something I always had backwards. I thought it began as the white puff of seeds we know so well.
The dandelion flower opens in the morning and closes back up at night! I never noticed this before!
It is the only flower that represents 3 celestial bodies. The sun (yellow flower), the moon (puff ball seed stage), and the dispersing of the seeds (stars).
I've always enjoyed looking at the bright yellow flowers, but the buff ball seed stage is dreamy, in a way. A long time ago, I saw a cute saying that's always stayed with me. While some see weeds, others see wishes. I hope each and every one of you choose to see the wishes in life. As for the simple, fun project this week. . .
Grab some white paper, a black sharpie or pen, some watercolor paint, and a paintbrush! Draw your puff ball seeds, making sure to show some floating in the wind, then grab your watercolors. I stuck to blue, but you could do a variety of colors to resemble the sky when the sun sets. Carefully paint around the puff ball seeds to make them really stand out.
Why not make a wish when you're all done?
Until next time. . .
Gram