I took this picture the other day while I was wandering the property. It got me wondering what name is given to the flower once it's gone to seed. As a child, we always called them dandelion puffs. I did a little research and found they are actually called something quite different.
The flower (actually, hundreds of tiny florets) turns into a mass of seeds known as a dandelion clock. Each seed is suspended from a parachute-like stalk — easily released by a puff of breath.
Many people believe that dandelion seeds will grant your wish and also carry your thoughts and dreams to loved ones when you blow them into the air.
The common name, dandelion translates to dent-de-lion in French, and means “the lion's tooth”. This summons symbolic meaning of lion's, which deals with courage, pride, family.
I found all this interesting and timely. The adult in me knows that making a wish on a dandelion puff is just a child's folly, but the child in me still made a wish and sent my dreams into the wind.
When you look at a field of dandelions you can either see a hundred weeds or a hundred wishes. (author unknown)
