I have a bit of a confession to make today, and I hope you forgive me for what I’m about to divulge.

Every year, with the return of Spring, I choose to delight in the yellow polka-dots that blanket my lawn.

Yes, I’m talking about dandelions.

I can’t help but admire their bright, smiling faces that seem to seek out sunshine (though here in Oregon, they usually find themselves drowning in April showers). I’m not a fan of the color yellow, but there are exceptions that must be made, and for a brief window of time, dandelions are included in that exception.

They’re a sign of growth, though admittedly not growth I will encourage for long.

They’re a bright spot in the midst of a dark sea of green.

They’re resilient, persistent and they make me become reminiscent…

I remember gathering them by the handfuls in my childhood, happy to have so many golden treasures so readily available. But now that has all changed. Dandelions are no longer considered treasures, but trouble.

At what point did I start seeing them not as a flower, but as a weed? At what point did they lose their value, without ever changing themselves? Why did I ever stop gathering them and no longer allow them to bring a smile to my face?

I don’t have the answers to those questions, but I do have a solution… I allow them to be flowers for a while, at least for the Spring. I tread lightly around them, appreciating their temporary decision to decorate my lawn. I know their time to depart will come, and it will come soon. Swiftly the lawnmower will make another appearance and decimate them, or perhaps  I will try to pluck them from the ground, root and all. I acknowledge, they must leave.

But not yet, not now.

For now I’m choose to align with the grand perspective held by Eeyore, from the book Winnie-The-Pooh…

“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”  -A. A. Milne

Weeds are flowers too… by Jaklyn Larsen

Do you have any unusual springtime traditions, like encouraging weeds to grow?