Dandelions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 10-19-2012, 09:20 AM

The other night I went over to the lovely #2 daughters house and watched the grandkids for a while, (age 2, 4 and six or so).

On the way out after mom came home I notice a few large succulant dandelion plants in her yard on the way to my car. I returned to the house and got a plastic shopping bag. I often will pick dandelions for my rabbits to eat when out and about.

The grandkids heard me and came out with me. Soon they each had a bag and we scoured their enitre yard for dandelions, the kids squeeling with glee when they would come upon a large plant. We may as well have been looking for easter eggs!

In addition to having fun it was a learning moment...."no don't pick the thistles even though they look similar, yes regular grass is ok, yes, clover is ok".

I ended up with two bags pretty well stuffed with greens. When I put them in the rabbit cages they took up nearly half the space.

I can also report that a little more than 24 hours later the greens are all gone and the rabbits look very happy.

It is amazing how much fun you can have with kids doing the simplist things.

Can't Know · #2 10-19-2012, 10:05 AM

That's quality time on both sides. Three if you include the rabbits.

Thanks for sharing.

jplinville · #3 10-19-2012, 11:06 AM

I used to do the same with my kids when they had rabbits. My buddy had fields filled with alfalfa, and we'd set the kids loose with plastic grocery bags and have them pick all they could. It was always fun to be out there helping them...

elchivito · #4 10-19-2012, 11:32 AM

The kind of quality outside time lots of kids don't get anymore. Good for you.

t walgamuth · #5 10-19-2012, 11:50 AM

Kids love being outside.

Unfortunately the house they currently live in has a street on each side within 60' or so, one of which is pretty busy.

lorainfurniture · #6 10-19-2012, 11:53 AM

Dandelions make an excellent dish. My mother picks them also.

elchivito · #7 10-19-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorainfurniture

Dandelions make an excellent dish. My mother picks them also.

You beat me to it. They're much better if you pick them before they flower. Lots of health benefits.

daw_two · #8 10-19-2012, 12:52 PM

Hey Tom.

This sounds like fun. This weekend is daughter weekend (Friday after school thru Tuesday morning). I've got this wild idea. My daughter wants some type of furry pet --- she has requested a bunny. A wild rabbit visits my backyard sometimes and I've thrown pieces of carrot in its direction. Yes, the rabbit smells them, finds them, and eats them.

So, here's my wild idea. Get you post a pic of your bunnies. Then my daughter and I can pick some things to send to you. Do you think the bunny food would survive 2 days in the mail? Do bunnies eat wilted greens?

Thanks!

SwampYankee · #9 10-19-2012, 01:24 PM

That sounds like a great experience!

Sorry, Tom. I can't get the vision of sauteed rabbit in olive oil, garlic, onion and cicoria (dandelions) out of my head. And we've got pet bunnies.

My wife's older Sicilian relatives also made dandelion wine. I don't know that I'd say I enjoyed the taste of it, but I did enjoy the effects of it.

t walgamuth · #10 10-19-2012, 01:36 PM

We used to eat them when I was a kid. I have also seen them in salads recently.

David, get her a bunny for petes sake! You can send me the greens and they'll probably still be edible but really you should send them next day air!

I think I have some bunny pics at home. I will attach later.

Aquaticedge · #11 10-19-2012, 01:53 PM

I'm deathly allergic to Dandelions...I'm glad there are so few of them around here

R Leo · #12 10-19-2012, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

We used to eat them when I was a kid. I have also seen them in salads recently...

That's because dandylions look like arugula. IIRC, you weren't all that fond of the arugula and maybe that's a northern thing.

Douse liberally with ranch dressing and all is OK.

Tom, you should have been here to today to watch me screw around changing oil, filters and greasing that big tractor all day long.

t walgamuth · #13 10-20-2012, 05:13 AM

The arugula was the stuff that was sort of hot? I thought it was interesting and ate it all IIRC.

The tractor servicing must have been fun! (Never a dull moment!)

R Leo · #14 10-20-2012, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The arugula was the stuff that was sort of hot? I thought it was interesting and ate it all IIRC.

The tractor servicing must have been fun! (Never a dull moment!)

Yep, the hot stuff. Didn't see you go in for 2nds or did I miss that when I was reaching for the bottle of Woodford? ;-)

Would you believe that green monster only holds 8.5qts of lube oil? My PSD wants 12 (of course it makes 2.5x the hp and 2X the torque too). The real entertainment of the day was getting the a/c condenser, intercooler and oil cooler moved around so that I could clean the massive build-up of doveweed lint out of their respective coils and those of the radiator too.

Air&Road · #15 10-20-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The other night I went over to the lovely #2 daughters house and watched the grandkids for a while, (age 2, 4 and six or so).

On the way out after mom came home I notice a few large succulant dandelion plants in her yard on the way to my car. I returned to the house and got a plastic shopping bag. I often will pick dandelions for my rabbits to eat when out and about.

The grandkids heard me and came out with me. Soon they each had a bag and we scoured their enitre yard for dandelions, the kids squeeling with glee when they would come upon a large plant. We may as well have been looking for easter eggs!

In addition to having fun it was a learning moment...."no don't pick the thistles even though they look similar, yes regular grass is ok, yes, clover is ok".

I ended up with two bags pretty well stuffed with greens. When I put them in the rabbit cages they took up nearly half the space.

I can also report that a little more than 24 hours later the greens are all gone and the rabbits look very happy.

It is amazing how much fun you can have with kids doing the simplist things.

The nicest things in life are most definitely free!

My kids are now 32 and 28 and when the family gets together, the conversation will almost inevitably come around to the tree climbing, frog gigging, acorn gathering, horseback riding or even talk about hauling hay and other chores.

The dandelion gathering will be something the kids AND you, will remember the rest of your lives, except maybe for the two year old.

I'm glad you all had this experience!