Friday, May 04, 2012

Dandelions and Butterflies

I mentioned the other day that while I was mowing the lawn all the dandelions seemed to have ducked beneath the blade. That left nearly as many yellow dots on the lawn after I cut them as before. I'm not about to go out and get some weed-and-feed type lawn fertilizer or even spray weed killer upon the lawn indiscriminately. To do so would result in 1) virtually no greenery at all and 2) grass growing too quickly for my liking (i.e. more mowing). Maybe I should get a cow or a couple of goats or sheep. We've had some thunderstorms the last few nights and the result is a well watered lawn--and crop of dandelions. Bright sunlight and warm temperatures have caused those dandelions to stick their heads up and go to seed.

Dandelion seed head 

Dandelion flower and seed head 

Besides, the dandelions attract numerous insects. Anything from honey bees and bumble bees, to butterflies will come in to sip their sweet nectar.


We've had dozens of the Red Admirals flitting about the yard and seen countless others on the dirt roads here about. (They also love the minerals from the clay.) Several other species of butterflies of about the same size but much more orange with black dots--possibly fritallary species, have also visited the dandelions. 
 

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