Each year, usually the last week in May, my community (Wallace, NS) hosts the Dandelion Festival. It is a quintessential, small-town gathering with raffles, sales, a dandelion photo contest and lots of fun. Check out their Facebook Page for all the details.
To honour the dandelion and the festival I thought I would pull together a few dandelion facts and recipes to share with you.
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I had good intentions, deliberately not mowing one section of my yard – letting the dandelions take over and grow wild in anticipation of this post. I had planned to pick the fresh flowers and try a number of recipes, picking my favourites to add to this post. As usual; however, the week got away from me and when I went out to pick the dandelions this morning it was raining and they have all closed up.
I’ve decided to push on – create this post with recipes (untried by me… yet) that look promising. I will try them soon and update the post accordingly.
If you try any, let me know your favourites in the comments below.
Dandelion Facts
- Official name: Taraxacum officinale
- Blooming in the early spring and throughout the summer, dandelions are great for pollinators – go bees!
- Although many consider them a weed, seeing a whole field covered in their bright yellow blooms is a beautiful sight.
- Dandelion roots can grow up (or down) to 16″ – and help aerate the soil.
- They are not native to Canada and are believed to have been brought by French Settlers
- Interestingly, you should avoid dandelions if you have a latex sensitivity.
- The seeds of a dandelion can travel up to 8km (5 miles) on the wind – wow!
- Dandelions are prolific – every time you make a wish on a dandelion, you blow anywhere from 50 – 170 seeds into the air
Benefits of Dandelions
Many have a love / hate relationship with dandelions. If you want your lawn to look good – you don’t want them; but, they are so good for so many other things:
- As an herb – every part of the plant is edible
- The flowers, roots and leaves contain lots of nourishing and healing vitamins and minerals: iron, potassium, calcium and vitamins A, several Bs and C, E, and D!
- Dandelions are high in fiber and a mild diuretic.
- Eating dandelions can help the liver, gallbladder and kidneys and are a great digestive aid.
- They also make great spring bouquets for moms and wonderful flower crowns
How to Differentiate between Dandelions and Similar Flowers
- Dandelions are most often confused with prickly lettuce which look very similar. On closer inspection, prickly lettuce leaves have hair on their underside and their leaves grow along the stem rather than at the base.
- Don’t worry, there are no poisonous dandelion look-alikes.
Recipes
The Canadian Wildlife Federation shares a number of wonderful dandelion recipes on their site. You can find some HERE!
Ways to Use Dandelions
- Add clean, washed leaves and/or flowers to salads and sandwiches
- Use in soups, stir-frys and casseroles
- Dry the leaves and/or roots and steep in water to make dandelion tea
- Steam the leaves with butter, garlic and lemon for a nice side dish
- Fry the flowers in batter to make flower fritters
Cookies
https://huckleberrybotanicals.com/dandelion-lemon-shortbread-cookies/Jelly
How To Make Dandelion Jelly
Wine
https://flustercluckmama.com/how-to-make-dandelion-wine/Egg Noodles
Dandelion Egg Noodles
Ice Cream
Dandelion & Honey Ice Cream
If you try any, let me know your favourites in the comments below.
Looking for other things to do in Wallace and Malagash, check out our North Shore adventure post:
Ice Cream, Anyone? Adventures on Nova Scotia’s North Shore!
and some of our other other NS Adventures:
- Nova Scotia Sand Dollar Secrets
The sand dollar: this beautiful, little invertebrate hides a few secrets inside it’s shell! Read on to find out it’s hidden treasures. - Walking Among the Beautiful Bears in Nova Scotia
Walking among the beautiful bears in Nova Scotia. How to live in harmony with the playful and curious NS black bear! - How to make Dandelion Cookies, Wine and other treats!
We’re celebrating all things dandelion – recipes for dandelion wine, cookies, jelly and more. We love this bright, beautiful little flower! - Things to See and Do Back-Roading in Pictou County, NS
Pictou County, on the North Shore of Nova Scotia has pretty much everything you need for an amazing Nova Scotia Adventure. - Ice Cream, Anyone? Adventures on Nova Scotia’s North Shore!
The weather is heating up and that means – ICE CREAM. Check out this unique ice cream shop experience owned and operated entirely by kids. - Go Tidal Bore Rafting on the World’s Highest Tides
The influx of Tidal Bore water causes waves to swirl, dip and dance across the Shubenacadie river creating an exhilarating playground for river rafters! So much fun!!! - Whale Watching in Nova Scotia – The Best Places to go!
Planning summer adventures… Go whale watching in Nova Scotia. You won’t be disappointed. - The Best Places to Photograph Bald Eagles in Nova Scotia
Bald Eagles are a photographers dream, pair them with Nova Scotia scenery, waterways and fields and you get amazing pictures! - How to Make Maple Oatmeal Cookies
Making maple oatmeal raisin (or chocolate chips) cookies with fresh syrup from Sugar Moon Farms – Earltown, Nova Scotia. - A Horseback Riding Adventure – Amazing Things To Do in Scotsburn, NS
Looking for some winter fun in Northern Nova Scotia? Why not go on a horseback riding adventure at Shelby Stables – Scotsburn, NS! - Nova Scotia Beach Challenge
Oh, to be on a NS beach! Showing mostly North Shore beaches and a few others. Great swimming and bird watching – a photographers dream!
