First Dandelion

The First Dandelion

Simple and fresh and fair from winter's close emerging,

As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, had ever been,

Forth from its sunny nook of shelter'd grass--innocent, golden, calm as the dawn,

The spring's first dandelion shows its trustful face.

Source: "Leaves of Grass," by Walt Whitman

One day it feels like spring... the next day it's near freezing - complete with sleet and snow. Mother Nature is just reminding us that She is in control! It's mid-April and the flowers that bloomed in March have either been destroyed by extremes in temperature or have retreated. The winter clothes that I was ever so anxious to pack away have been pulled back out for a few more weeks. Guess Mother Nature wanted to just tempt us with those spring-like days a few weeks ago. But now She realizes She is not willing to kiss winter goodbye - not quite yet at least

But, I have no doubt that spring will soon be here in all of its glory! The robins are chirping and flitting all about. The squirrels scamper, chasing one another from tree to tree. Green seems to be the more predominant color even though there are still many trees that are brown and barren. And, the dandelions are starting to pop out of the ground everywhere I look! The other day, I noticed several of them along the road - some were ready for the wind to carry away the wishes made on soft tufts of white. Most, however were still bright, cheery and yellow. ( I spied the one in the picture above while out feeding the squirrels and birds this morning. )

Many a bouquet of the yellow blooms were picked and lovingly presented to Mom when I was young. Little did I know that they were weeds. And, Mom would never let on that she knew either. She'd smile and say "thankyou" while putting water in a small glass and placing the bouquet in plain view.

Many sunny and warm afternoons were spent lazing in the grass and pulling the stems topped with fluffy white down - just to make a wish and blow it away on the springtime breezes. As a child I never once wondered if those dreams would come true. I never considered where those dreams on downy fluff would land. And I certainly never realized that I was helping to plant more weeds! I believed that they were flowers equally beautiful as the roses and peonies that would bloom later in the season. I believed that wishes did come true and that all I had to do was wish hard enough, blow strong enough and wait ... and my dreams would be realized.

Perhaps the dandelion holds an important message for all of us. Perhaps one of its important roles is to teach us (the adult version of us) that even weeds have their beauty and their positive natures. Perhaps they were designed as a reminder that even weeds can be a welcome sign that spring is on its way and surely winter will pass.