Cheerfulness - The Dandelion
 Dandelion with seed puff
Dandelions
Tenacious, lion-hearted globe Of sunshine in meadow, field, Surprising reminder to hang on To the North Star Or scatter on the wind Like floating wishes of childhood… Dandelions are not native to the Northwest, but any walk in the woods is likely to find some of these scattered like familiar friends along the trail. Are they native anywhere or simply native everywhere? In summer fashion, their golden lion manes contrast against the dark green of their jagged edged leaves. Closely cropped along a well trod path or standing high in a field, the dandelion has learned the art of survival in just about any type of climate or habitat. The flowers are spherical rays. Their seed pods, achenes, dry on their heads forming clusters of cotton-like balls whose filaments splinter and float on the wind to hundreds of different destinations. Each will settle and find an individual destiny. They belong to taraxacum, a genus in the very large Asteraceae family. The tap root of the dandelion once established goes deep into the earth. A cursory cut or wind storm will not destroy it. If broken, the stem exudes a milky fluid. Its hardy nature makes it a gardener’s woeful chore. They pop up every season and are hard to remove. The leaves are edible for salad greens and can even be made into dandelion wine when distilled. In the sunny spots of the woods, they add color, provide feed and generally act as if they belong. In the wild, they have purpose. “Happiness which has a reason for it is only another form of misery. Bliss is without reason.”Deepak Chopra I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it. -- Thomas Jefferson Read more: http://greatday.com/motivate/110122.html#ixzz1vdmyXR9l en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Dandeli |
Cheerfulness
What is there about fresh air that perks up the spirit immediately? Rain or shine, that shot of oxygen enriches the heart and the brain, acting as an elixir for the soul. Even our Founding Fathers saw the need to escape the debates and discussions that framed America. They would find places to ride and then walk out into the forests, searching for unique plants or animals. The escape gave them joy and connected them immediately to a sense of higher purpose for their lives and actions. Did this mean that they become the great comedians of the time, jovial and jolly? Not at all. However, their escape gave them balance and perspective. They needed that to remain optimistic and cheerful about their work through seemingly endless debate in enclosed quarters. This is so true of the pervasive dandelion. Famed as a nuisance beyond measure in our morning “Pickles” cartoons, the dandelion has learned survival. With the wind and children, the seeds disperse throughout the woodlands and environment of just about any region. Amazingly, I have stood at the top of some of the high Alps in Europe and looked down to see a yellow dandelion topknot gaily clinging to a ridge. Dandelions have made an art of adaptation and survival. Like coyotes, rats and cockroaches, they have found a pattern that aids their reproduction and dispersal. Even though they are hated, they are a healthy element to note! Looking at them can make you laugh in wonder… “The cheerful live longest in years, and afterwards in our regards. Cheerfulness is the off-shoot of goodness.”Christian Nevell Bovee |
