Dandelion Day | JOY for Today

Dandelions are nature's smiley face. It's nature's overused, simplistic way to usher in JOY, if you will only let them.

Dandelion Day | April 5th Annually

JOY for Today Offerings:

• Did You Know... Five dandelion facts that we didn't know.
• Wolfe Stew Connects Dandelions to JOY.
• Bible Verses and Quotes About dandelions and flowers.
• Activity Suggestions: Eat, craft, read, write, discuss, and walk with dandelions.

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: 

• Earth Day (April 22nd Annually)
• Honesty Day (April 30th Annually)
• National Day of Prayer (May's First Thursday - 5/2/2024)

Did You Know:

1. Antarctica is the only continent that does not have dandelions? Ants are similarly located. (DIY Herb Gardener Discover Life, Wolfe Stew, and Ant Maps)
2. Every part of the dandelion is edible? Eat the greens raw or cooked. Try the flowers fresh, dried to make tea, brewed into wine, infused into oil, or preserved as a jelly. Roast the roots as a coffee substitute. (Cleveland Clinic and Better Homes and Gardens)
3. Dandelions are packed with nutrients? Dandelions contain vitamins (A, B-9, C, and K), minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron), antioxidants (lutein) and prebiotics (inulin). The nutritional content of dandelions helps your body slow the aging process, reduce inflammation, manage blood pressure, control blood sugar, and lower cholesterol. (Cleveland Clinic and Better Homes and Gardens)
4. Of French origin, the word dandelion means tooth of the lion? The shape of the leaves were the inspiration for the name. Other common names for dandelions include priest's crown, Irish daisy, monk's head, and blowball. Dandelions were historically called "tell-time" due to a custom that linked the number of puffs required to empty the stem of a seed flower to the hour of the day or to the opening and closing of the flower with the day/night cycle. (Etymonline, Word Histories, and DIY Herb Gardener)
5. Daisies, dandelions, lettuce, and tarragon all belong to the same family? Classified as an herb, dandelions belong to the Asteraceae family and are of the genus Taraxacum. The Asteraceae family boasts the largest number of flowering plants with over 1,000 genera and more than 20,000 species. Other family members include sunflowers, marigolds, chamomile, and sage. (DIY Herb Gardener and Gardening Know How)

We'd Love to Know:   

Which dandelion fact was new to you?

Wolfe Stew Connects

Dandelions are...

The carefree days of summer. From dandelions dotting green fields to dandelion art on the sidewalk, my summer memories are filled with these cheery, yellow blossoms. Reminding me of simpler times. Allowing me to be carefree.

Hope sent on the wind. Like a prayer sent to heaven, a blown wish flower embodies hope. And, as the seeds take root and new life grows, the same holds true with your whispers to the Father. He cherishes your prayers, hears your desires, and will yield for you an abundant life beyond your wildest dreams.

Inspiring in their vibrancy. A spark of bright yellow amid a field of drab green, dandelions add beauty. Bees, drawn by their brightness, pollinate and produce honey. So, too, can we shine as a light in a dreary world, drawing others to hope, instructing them in righteousness, and leading them to God's goodness.

Valuable in their utility. From salads to teas, from honey to medicine, humans use dandelions in myriad ways. Yet, these edible plants are not favored by us only. Watch a tortoise devour one and try not to smile.

A simple gift from God to us. And as is true of most things that are simple, dandelions are all too often overlooked. Our feelings for dandelions range from problematic to ignored, and are rarely favored. Yet,  if we took the time and found the right frame of mind, there is so much goodness in one to savor.

A reminder of God's compassionate care for us. It's written in Matthew 6:28-29: 

Consider the [dandelions] of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

When you next see a dandelion, let JOY wash over you. He cares for YOU. Smile, Sunshine. May each dandelion remind you that you are valued, cared for, and never alone.

In response:

1. Pick a dandelion and press it. Add a verse, quote, poem, or lyric that reminds you of the JOY you have in Jesus.
2. Join us as we study Isaiah. This week, we were reminded that God is quietly watching over us in a way that is comforting like warmth from the sunshine and refreshing like cool moisture from the dew. 

Bible Verses and Quotes 

Bible Verses 

• "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2:12 KJV
• "Oh Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." Psalm 104:24 KJV
• "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:8 ESV
• "Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone - as though we had never been here." Psalm 103:15-16 NLT
• "The person who plants the seeds is not important. The person who gives water to the plants is not important. The important person is God, because he causes everything to grow." I Corinthians 3:7 EASY

Quotes

• "Most of the dandelions had changed from suns into moons." - Vladimir Nabokov
• "I have lost my smile, but don't worry. The dandelion has it." - Nhat Hanh
• "Whether a dandelion is a weed or a flower is entirely a matter of perspective." - Julia Tagliere
• "Sometimes it seemed to him that his life was delicate as a dandelion. One little puff from any direction, and it was blown to bits." - Katherine Paterson
• "What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again." - Suzanne Collins

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote would you embellish with dandelions?

Activity Suggestions

Cook with Dandelions

Have your learners go on a dandelion scavenger hunt. Then, transform their treasures into something edible:

• Dandelion Honey with Messy Little Monster
• Dandelion Salad with Little Cooks Reading Books
• More dandelion recipes gathered by The Prairie Homestead like:
• Dandelion root tincture to detox the kidneys and liver, fight skin problems, fight fever, and more from Practical Self Reliance.
• Creamy Dandelion Quesadilla from The Prairie Homestead. Just replace the spinach with dandelion greens.
• Fried Dandelions from Micah Funk at All Recipes. An Appalachian favorite.

Craft with Dandelions

Simply use the dandelion flower as paint and the stem as the handle. Use the sidewalk or paper as your canvas! Or try one of the ideas below:

• PreK-1st: Dandelion Life Cycles on paper plates with Kelly's Classroom
• 2nd-3rd: Seed Flower Paper Craft with toothpicks and cotton balls at DLTK or Dandelion Paper Craft with cupcake liners at Artsy Craftsy Mom.
• 4th-6th: Seed Flower 3D Gift Decor with Q-tips and a Styrofoam ball at Ms. Rachel Hollis. 

Read and Write about Dandelions

1. Read The Dandelion Seed, written by Joseph Anthony and illustrated by Cris Orbo. A single dandelion seed fears leaving the plant. But a strong wind carries it away. Through its journey, it realizes change is scary but can lead to beauty, purpose, and growth. The book ends with encouragement to another scared seed. 
2. Write about a change they experienced (or will soon experience). Moving on to the next grade is a change everyone will relate to. Have them include their fears or worries and what has helped (or might help) them accept the change. End with benefits of change emphasizing how change leads to growth.

Discuss "Would You Rather..." Questions

• Wish on a seed flower or a shooting star?
• Craft or cook with dandelions?
• Eat dandelions raw or as a jelly?

If you would like three "Would You Rather...?" questions for every April day, download this Wolfe Stew PowerPoint or get it (for free!) at our TPT store.

Take on the Family Challenge

Go on a dandelion walk. Each time you spot a cluster of dandelions count how many there are. Keep a running total until you come to a turn. Then, turn left if your total is odd and right if it is even.

We'd Love to Know:

If dandelions bloom where you live.

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. 

Your Partners in JOY Finding,

Sample these related posts:

To ponder the brevity of man's life.

To hear how I used dandelions on May Day.

To trust the unchanging God in the midst of change.

To return to simplicity.

To go to the ant.

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.

*Image credit: Dandelion Meadow by NoName_13 at Pixabay