Dandelion season

While driving to a state park in Warren County, New Jersey on Earth Day weekend, I stopped at an overlook in the Delaware Water Gap, where, for many eons, the river has abraded a passage through Kittatinny Mountain. But what caught my eye at the edge of the parking lot were clumps of dandelions that had penetrated the man-made concrete.

I’m aware that we style these plants “weeds,” and employ trowels and chemical poisons to eradicate them. But their beauty, to say nothing of their highly evolved design, was in striking contrast to the littered cigarette stubs and plastic cups in the parking lot. It was also remarkable that in such a desiccated environment so many bees and butterflies sought the flowers.

Ridding the earth of dandelions would have horrified colonial societies, which depended on them for salad greens, used the roots as coffee substitutes and made wine of the sweet-smelling blossoms. Early settlers, in fact, brought seeds across the ocean to plant in kitchen gardens.

Dandelion flowers open in the morning to give access to insect visitors and close before nightfall to conserve pollen and nectar for daytime callers. Closing their petals on dark or rainy days serves the same purpose.

It’s ironic that in the march of “progress” such a colorful, useful plant has been outlawed from lawns and gardens.

Spring wildflower walk

On Saturday, April 29, I’ll lead a wildflower walk at Calkins Creek, near Milanville, hosted by the Butterfly Barn and Delaware Highlands Conservancy. It’s a beautiful area and should be awash in native flowers. Meet at the Butterfly Barn in Milanville at 10:00 a.m. For information or directions call 570/226-3164 or 729-7053.