In defense of the dandelion

Hello, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Our friend Davis Sanders brought us absolutely charming, tiny flower vases, just right for single blossoms or a few attractive leaves. Mine now hold dandelions, what some consider a weed is a lovely flower in the eyes of others. John Nelson tells us that dandelions bloom every month of the year in South Carolina, often escaping our notice as we aren’t outside so often when it's really cold, but as the days get longer and warmer they have longer stems and are far more likely to be seen. Those perfect lawn lovers despise them but since I long gave up on that unreachable goal, I admire them for providing pollen and nectar to honeybees venturing out in winter, and now to lots of pollinators emerging from their winter sleep.