Read the other day (in the Toronto Star; article by Sonia Day) that the Master Gardeners of Ontario are holding a vote to name "Canada's National Flower" in this, our 150th year. They have narrowed their acceptable /recommended choice to three; "Hooded Ladies Tresses"; Twin Flower"; and "Bunchberry". Wow!
It's Hard for me to vote for
any of the three finalists, not being sure I have seen any of them!
Rather in my
corner ladies, gentlemen and others, we have the Incredible Dandelion. Most
Canadians (at least in the southern parts) have a love-hate relationship with
these little asexual plants. I know they’re not proprietary to Canada, but then,
most Canadians are transplants from somewhere. Like Canadians, they’re resilient
beyond belief; you just can’t keep them down; they’re extremely practical ‘cause
you can eat the whole thing; better still you can make some wine from them along
the way making it a medicinal Plant not needing Government regulation*. They come
to life every year in the spring after a long Canadian winter and it seems like
every one of them has survived! They
spread their seeds in the wind like we spread our ideas of multi-culturalism,
peace and hockey around the world. Maybe best of all, they’re bi-lingual! The
name “Dandelion” comes from the French “dent-de-lion” meaning “Lion’s Tooth”. My
thought: make The Incredible Dandelion a write-in candidate in the Master
Gardeners of Ontario’s vote for Canada’s National Flower. It should win hands
down.
* For one take on the good parts check out https://altnature.com/gallery/dandelion.htm Dr. G will turn up lots more!
