If you look beyond the aesthetics of your property and into the properties of the plant itself , you ’ ll soon discover the pestiferous dandelion to be a botanical superplant that borders on amazing .”
from the EDITOR
TG Toby Gorman
There was once a time when dandelions were broadly loved for their many useful applications . Its roots were used for medicinal properties , its leaves for culinary purposes , its flowers for wine . At one point in history , it was even believed the dandelion could prevent baldness , alleviate toothaches , and pull people out of depression . Somewhere along the line dandelions got a bad rap . Today , homeowners and gardeners glare at the sight of them . We do our best to annihilate them by pulling them and poisoning them , but we shouldn ’ t . They are the go-to early season pick-me-up for many insects , bees most importantly . You know , those buzzy little yellow things that pollinate 90 percent of our food supply . In his article “ The Remarkably Amazing Dandelion ” on page 52 , contributor Alan Ray highlights the importance of this useful and ubiquitous plant that has for some reason drawn our ire . “ If you look beyond the aesthetics of your property and into the properties of the plant itself , you ’ ll soon discover the pestiferous dandelion to be a botanical superplant that borders on amazing ,” he writes . “ In Europe , dandelions were once revered for their beauty , medicinal properties , and their tenacity to survive .”
Their tenacity to survive is important because it allows insects the opportunity to survive , which in turn allows birds the opportunity to survive , and so on . It is how spring teems with life . And with your planter boxes (“ Getting the Most from Your Planter Box ” on page 30 ), or square foot garden (“ An Orderly Way to Grow ” on page 62 ), your choice to let dandelions thrive goes a long way in keeping the web of life alive and well .
14 Maximum Yield