What's the Deal with Dandelions Anyway?

I have to admit, one day I was meandering along and four words popped into my cranium - Deep Fried Dandelion Pickles. I shrugged and kept on my merry way, but I have to admit, this wee voice in my head pondered, "are there dandelion pickles?" "can you deep fry a dandelion and if so, why?" and other odd-ball thoughts.

And, like most thoughts in my OCD head, it took a bite and held on, rather like a small dog with a chew toy but with less growling and spit.

Anyhoo, I have to admit, the longer I ruminated over these four words, the more I liked them. And yes, people deep fry dandelions. I imagine they are tasty with ranch dressing, because, well, what isn't? And double yes, folks even pickle them - but the bud version of a dandelion, not the showy yellow part.

And you know what? I like dandelions. My approach to lawn care is fairly lackadaisical so I don't go all nuclear-Ortho-RoundUp on the little beasties. Instead, I just ignore them most of the time. Except for when I like to stoop down and take a good look at them.

Have you ever done that? Stooped down and took a good look at something considered a weed, a nuisance?

I recommend it.

You see, dandelions are actually pretty damn cool. They grow over and over again. Talk about resilient. And they are actually both really tough and terribly fragile, all at the same time. And apparently, some people like them enough to go to the trouble to find yummy things to do with them while other people go to the trouble to kill them.

Sort of how people treat all stuff that is both really tough and terribly fragile.

So here I am, Deep Fried Dandelion Pickles. Hope to see you again!