Dandelion

Dandelion, Myungja Anna Koh

Dandelion

  The days are still chilly and it rains often, but spring seems to be fast approaching. If I go out to the yard, I can see dandelions in every corner of the lawn.

 ​Dandelions are perhaps the most annoying weed when it comes to lawn care in your yard. This is because it is deeply rooted in the ground and it is difficult to remove it completely. And when flower seeds in late spring are blown away by the wind, you have to wrestle with another dandelion seed without fail.

  However, this dandelion is said to be good for guinea pigs. So today, I pulled the dandelion up to the root, washed it, and gave it to our piggies. 

​ While I'm washing the dandelions, the piggies overturn their bowls to protest.

 ​When it comes to weeds, dandelion has many benefits that even other common plants cannot achieve. They carry nutrients straight from the roots to the flowers. They have most of the essential minerals, vitamins and even dietary fiber.

 Some nutrients found in dandelion include:

Vitamin C – Cavies cannot naturally produce or store this vitamin on their own. That's why the body needs so much. Dandelion is one of the good sources of vitamins.

Vitamin K – This is another vitamin found in dandelion. It helps with bone formation and growth.

Dietary Fiber – Helps guinea pigs digest and prevents constipation.

​So, if your caviar is suffering from gastrointestinal problems, you can feed the dandelions and see the difference.

  When giving dandelion, which has many health benefits, you must be careful not to mix it with other weeds. 

 My piggies look like this when they see this weed for the first time.

  ​My piggy only like carrots. It's the face of disappointment to learn that it wasn't carrots that I filled the bowl with.

  They sniff every nook and cranny of the dandelion and lightly taste the leaves, but do not actively eat them like carrots. In my opinion, neither humans nor animals tend to eat things that are good for the body. 

​ Anyway, when I was in Germany, my eldest son, who was 6 years old at the time, picked it from the yard, washed it, and boiled it as a tea. And the dandelion is sometimes compared to the tenacity of overcoming the hardships of Koreans.

  The dandelion can grow up to 17 inches tall. There are other insect pollinators of dandelion. Dandelion seeds can travel up to 5 miles to their terrestrial destination. At certain stages of their life cycle, dandelion plants look like the moon, stars and sun. The plant is used to produce root beer and wine. Dandelion is beneficial for farms by increasing the level of nitrogen in the soil. 

  ​Dandelion's roots are long and firmly embedded in the ground. Anyone who has uprooted a dandelion at least once will marvel at its tenacious vitality. I felt the energy from that strong vitality and drew a picture.

  ​I am moved by the appearance of a small plant that is yellow and soft on the outside and is resistant to rain and wind and is difficult to pluck. Learn this dandelion-like mental power.