Dandelions. We’re all quite familiar with those sunny little flowers, right? Weeds, most people say. But to be quite honest, I always loved them. They’re so cheerful and happy when in their yellow stage…and though not quite so pretty when they’ve gone to seed, that white puff is FUN, am I right? Eh? Eh? 😉
But what about the word itself? Have you ever pondered why this oh-so-abundant member of the daisy family (that’s right, it IS a flower!) has “lion” in its name?
I think I always assumed that it was because the yellow petals were reminiscent of a mane. But nope. I was wrong.
Dandelion, which has been an English word since the 1300s, is actually from Old French dent de lion, which is in turn directly from Latin dens leonis, meaning “lion’s tooth.” Um…er…em…huh? Yup. Not for the petals…for the LEAVES, with their jagged edges.
Go figure!
Another name given once-upon-a-time to this plan was tell-time (also from the late 1300s), so called either because of how the flower opens up with the sunshine, or perhaps based on an idea that the number of puffs it takes to blow off the seeds corresponds to the hour. (Riiiiiight.) I’d never heard that name for them, but it was interesting enough to share!
Okay, so ‘fess up. How do you really feel about dandelions?
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Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
I LOVE dandelions! They are flowers not weeds, such happy smiling faces.
I’m sorry to hear about your personal challenges this month but so impressed by what you have done in spite of them. You are a true inspiration.
Your father (step)will be in my prayers as he goes about the arduous task of healing. The physical therapy done with stroke patients today, is very impressive. We’ve come a long way in learning effective techniques for rehabbing each form of brain and spinal cord damage.
I’ve had some personal experience akin to the damage done by strokes. For many years, I’ve wrestled with Multiple Sclerosis. I call it my “internal terrorist” as it has always hit at unexpected times. Most recently, an attack left me with additional weakness in my legs and feet. Fortunately, a new brace for one leg, created by a skilled craftsman, has restored my ability to walk better- without going into what I call my “drunken sailor routine”. As with all negative experiences, there is always an upside. Because of the problem, I’ve known the healing, caring presence of God at work through good people. I have felt His goodness through the kindness and compassion of everyone from the young woman who rushed to get ahead of me so that she might open the heavy grocery store door, to the brace maker and the medical workers who saw me through difficult days.
I have been forced to slow down and experience the awesome details of the world making its way through summer- delightful details I miss when whizzing through my days. For all these things, I am thankful.
In spring, my yard is alive with the happy heads of dandelions. The thought of using weed killer on these perfect golden orbs is appalling to me. When I was growing up, my mother dug up the tender spring dandelion greens, washed them thoroughly, added a few pieces of spring onion, then boiled them briefly, like fresh spinach. When soft, she drenched them in fresh creamery butter with a dash of salt and pepper. Ambrosia chalked full of vitamins.
How sad it is that our fur babies do not share our life span. These creatures that we often grow to, are designed to s so dearly love, spend only a small portion of our lives with us, yet our hearts and minds are never prepared for their loss. May you fondly carry the memory of your kitties throughout your life, and may you always be open to giving your love to another fur person who comes your way in need.
The early pages of your book are compelling and set in an interesting historical period. I look forward to reading more. Are any of your books on audiotape or Read Aloud? I’d love to listen to them being read.
I’m slogging along in my attempt to finish my historical novel, Nothing to Fear, about Susannah Pfoutz, the first woman settler in the mountains of Pennsylvania. As my health improves, I will be devoting more of my time to its completion. You are such an inspiration! Peace and blessings,
Hi, Sandra!
We have some friends with MS too so know how it can sneak up out of nowhere with its attacks! I love that you’ve found the blessing amidst the trial though. <3
And yes, almost all of my books are available in audio format!
I hope your writing gives you fuel to further recovery!
I’ve heard the fuzzy white heads referred to as “dandelion clocks”, which never made any sense to me. But maybe it’s from the same source as calling them “tell-times”?