O Dandelion, Rich and Haughty

Dandelions

I mowed the lawn for the first time this year, a multi-sensory experience.  I love the smell of freshly mown grass and the sound of the mower itself — both seem to be symbolic of spring and the long days of summer.

This is also the time of year when I try to dig out all of the dandelions that have rooted in the yard over the winter.  I know they are considered weeds for the determined way they take over the lawn, but I do think they are awfully pretty, too.

Lawnmower attacking dandelions

The Dandelion
by Vachel Lindsay

O dandelion, rich and haughty,
King of village flowers!
Each day is coronation time,
You have no humble hours.
I like to see you bring a troop
To beat the blue-grass spears,
To scorn the lawn-mower that would be
Like fate’s triumphant shears.
Your yellow heads are cut away,
It seems your reign is o’er.
By noon you raise a sea of stars
More golden than before.

Dandelion bouquet

 

Dandelion chain

 

Jellybean with dandelion garland

 

Watercolor sketch of dandelions

 

Foretelling Summer

“When you can put your foot on seven daisies, summer is come.”
— Traditional proverb

The true signs of summer: bare feet and seven daisies

Another icon of summer: the lawnmower

Summer is really and truly here.  These daisies tell all.

I really prefer those other daisies, the tall ones, so common and taken for granted.  I try to make them look especially pretty in my photos.