dandelion

jan julius

Wild endive, lion’s teeth, clockflower, worm rose, butter flower, the devil’s milk bin, blow-ball, telltime and the priest’s crown. Sometimes loved, sometimes loathed, but always there when you need them most. A healer of soil, a stimulating tonic for the listless - their basal rosettes form a brooch on the sidewalk. It’s golden hues are sympathetic to the jaundiced and stagnant, and they bring levity and motion to our most languid systems. They keep local and seasonal time and are one of the many earth clocks.  Just like their astrological counterparts, Leo’s, Dandelions are as loyal and generous as they come. 

Latin: Taraxacum officinale, roughly meaning “bitter herb of the apothecaries”.

Properties: Tonic for the liver, promotes lymphatic motion, alkalizes the body, stimulates insulin production, high in Vitamin A + C and minerals, stimulates appetite and digestion, cooling, drying, bitter and diuretic. 

Companions: Apples, peaches, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, pollinators and runner beans. Dandelion makes for a great companion plant on fruit orchards. They naturally produce ethylene gas, which helps fruit ripen early and evenly, and they enrich the surrounding soil with important minerals and nutrients. 

Recipe: Dandelion Wine

Sound Design: Jan Julius