Don't ditch the Dandelions (just yet)

Ah, the Dandelion (TARAXACUM). I have a mixed-up relationship with this yellow flower. I love and loathe it all at the same time. It suddenly appears EVERYWHERE in March/April making your once well-kept lawns and paths spotted with yellow flower heads.

Let's face it, it's so tempting to rip them all up and go back to neatness.

STOP!

They may look unsightly and are un-welcomed in your garden but please don't pull them out - just yet.

Dandelions are some of the first food sources available for newly awakened bees. They're the first offerings of nectar for these sleepy pollinators and a much welcomed first meal as the bees come out of hibernation. Imagine waking from a 4 month deep sleep to be greeted by your favourite breakfast - that's how the bees feel when they see those glorious yellow flowers.

Please don't mow your lawns or tidy your paths until more spring flowers have opened up. The bees need the dandelions so much more than you need your lawn. Let's face it, how often do you sit or walk on your lawn in the soggy months of March and April?

Be kind to the bees and they will reward you tenfold when it comes to visiting and pollinating your garden. Bees are in rapid decline in the UK and they need all the help they can get. They're falling in number due to many reasons including disease, pesticide use and lack of food sources for them to visit.

So just for now, please leave the dandelions alone and let the bees have their fill. Why not stop and watch the bees bumble around the dandelions in your garden?

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If you're wondering how to use those flower heads, here are a few ideas:
12 Things to Make With Dandelion Flowers (Nerdy Farm Wife)
How to Eat Dandelion Flowers (Tactical Intelligence)
Dandelion Uses and Benefits (The Wellness Mama)