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SteveW
03-05-2010, 09:35
Still a bit chilly but the tulips are looking for the sun.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSC_0002-1.jpg

kcc123
04-05-2010, 00:01
So are the dandelions in my garden, pathetic!

http://i44.tinypic.com/2m4964n.jpg

Marco
04-05-2010, 08:17
Make some tea from them, then :)

Marco.

kcc123
04-05-2010, 08:57
Good idea, will I get poisoned by them?
Rose tea is excellent!

Marco
04-05-2010, 09:00
Dunno - I've never tried it! :lol:

Proceed with caution would be my advice, but it's used in a few drinks and cullinary applications.

Marco.

Alex_UK
04-05-2010, 14:52
It's all edible - but a diuretic, so "Proceed with caution" is good advice!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion

The Grand Wazoo
04-05-2010, 15:33
Dandelions?
A veritable pharmacy & grocers all rolled into one!



From Plants for a Future Database:
This plant has been mentioned in various books on poisonous plants but any possible toxins will be of very low concentration and toxicity. There are reports that some people have suffered dermatitis as a result of touching the plant, this is probably caused by the latex in the leaves and stems.

Edible Uses
Leaves - raw or cooked. When used in salads, they are rather bitter, though less so in the winter. Tender young leaves are considerably less bitter than older leaves. The leaves are often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before use. This will make them less bitter, but they will also contain less vitamins and minerals.

A very nutritious food, 100g of the raw leaves contain about 2.7g. protein, 9.2g. carbohydrate, 187mg Calcium, 66mg phosphorus, 3.1mg iron, 76mg sodium, 397mg potassium, 36mg magnesium, 14000iu vitamin A, 0.19mg vitamin B1, 0.26mg vitamin B2, 35mg vitamin C.

Root - raw or cooked. Bitter. A turnip-like flavour. Flowers - raw or cooked. A rather bitter flavour, the unopened flower buds can be used in fritters and they can also be preserved in vinegar and used like capers.

Both the leaves and the roots are used to flavour herbal beers and soft drinks such as 'Dandelion and Burdock'.

The roots of 2 year old plants are harvested in the autumn, dried and roasted to make a very good coffee substitute. It is caffeine-free.

Flowers - A pleasant tea is made from the flowers.

They are also used to make wine - all green parts should be removed when making wine to prevent a bitter flavour.

The leaves and the roots can also be used to make tea.

Medicinal Uses
The dandelion is a commonly used herbal remedy. It is especially effective and valuable as a diuretic because it contains high levels of potassium salts and therefore can replace the potassium that is lost from the body when diuretics are used.

All parts of the plant, but especially the root, are slightly aperient, cholagogue, depurative, strongly diuretic, hepatic, laxative, stomachic and tonic.

The root is also experimentally cholagogue, hypoglycaemic and a weak antibiotic against yeast infections. The dried root has a weaker action. The roots can be used fresh or dried and should be harvested in the autumn when 2 years old. The leaves are harvested in the spring when the plant is in flower and can be dried for later use.

A tea can be made from the leaves or, more commonly, from the roots. The plant is used internally in the treatment of gall bladder and urinary disorders, gallstones, jaundice, cirrhosis, dyspepsia with constipation, oedema associated with high blood pressure and heart weakness, chronic joint and skin complaints, gout, eczema and acne.

The plant has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Pneumococci, Meningococci, Bacillus dysenteriae, B. typhi, C. diphtheriae, Proteus etc.

The latex contained in the plant sap can be used to remove corns, warts and verrucae. The latex has a specific action on inflammations of the gall bladder and is also believed to remove stones in the liver.

A tea made from the leaves is laxative.

Other Uses
The flowers are an ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost.

A liquid plant feed can be made from the root and leaves.

A low quality latex, which can be used for making rubber, can be obtained from the roots of this plant.

A magenta-brown dye is obtained from the root.

The plant releases ethylene gas, this stunts the growth of nearby plants and causes premature ripening of fruits.

A distilled water made from the ligules (thin appendages at the base of the leaf blades) is used cosmetically to clear the skin and is particularly effective in fading freckles.

Tulips?
Not so much!

The bulb and the flowers have been known to cause dermatitis in sensitive people, though up to 5 bulbs a day can be eaten without ill-effect.

Edible Uses
Bulb - cooked. It can be dried and ground into a powder and then mixed with cereals when making bread etc. Some caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses
None known

Other Uses
Plants have been grown indoors in pots in order to help remove toxins from the atmosphere. It has been shown to help remove formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia

Barry
04-05-2010, 15:37
And to think that when I see them on my lawn, I feel the compulsion to get out the lawn mower!

Regards

Marco
04-05-2010, 18:25
Or make a nice little necklace from some to match your floral taffeta sun dress - then you can parade around the lawn like the hippy chick you've always wanted to be! :lol:

;)

Marco.

The Vinyl Adventure
04-05-2010, 21:33
Yes, very nice mate!! I should poke my camera around the garden a bit more... It was pretty sparse when we moved in (pretty much mostly little yellow golf club targets for us too at the mo) but have planted some late flowering jasmine and a few verietys of honeysuckle so that should brighten things up a bit once it gets a bit bigger

SteveW
05-05-2010, 07:22
Hosta La Vista Baby

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j280/Stevewaller/DSC_0003.jpg

kcc123
08-06-2010, 09:58
What are they?

They are growing everywhere in my garden.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u114/KCCTKC/P1100472copy1.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u114/KCCTKC/P1100489copy.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u114/KCCTKC/P1100672copy.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u114/KCCTKC/P1100469copy.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u114/KCCTKC/P1100731copy.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u114/KCCTKC/P1100735copy.jpg