The story goes, if you blew all of the seeds of a dandelion at once, the person you loved would love you back. Each time you wish upon a dandelion you are sending anywhere from 54-172 seeds into the air. Each seed is viable for up to 5 years, and if the seed takes root, the plant can live up to 13 years.
Hold the fluffy head of your dandelion near your mouth and turn carefully in the direction of the breeze. This insures a good flight for your wish and keeps all the seeds from landing on your clothing or in your hair. For the magic to be at it's best you must blow all the seeds off with one breath.
Or have you seen round, white poofs of fluff that you can blow into the air to make a wish? Those two flowers are the same flower. They're called “dandelions,” which comes from the French words for “lion's tooth.” They're bright and friendly-looking, but grown-ups can't stand them.
Do dandelions make wishes come true? Dandelions have a great significance in many cultures across the world. The plant is believed to be a symbol of hope, growth and healing. The noticeable seed head of the plant has more value than the yellow flower.
Dandelions bring prosperity and good luck
Even adults wish while blowing on a dandelion because it is believed to attract good fortune and that spreading the seeds in one blow brings good luck and the wish will come true.
While many people think of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) as a pesky weed, it is chock full of vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals, such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion leaves are used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas.
1. Bitter Leaves. The bitter-tasting leaves of the dandelion plant recall the bitter suffering the Israelites endured as slaves in Egypt. God delivered his people from ruthless treatment in a dramatic way, to be remembered and celebrated in the Passover meal each spring.
Some dandelions don't need to wait for the wind, though. As dandelions turn to seed, children everywhere rush to pick them, so that they can close their eyes, make a wish, and blow the seeds into the air. No one knows for sure how or why people started making wishes on dandelions.
Chrysanthemum (red) - Love. Good luck & best wishes.
Dandelions used to be used for medical purposes to treat infections and diseases. Because they thought this was a magical herb, people began making wishes on them when the dandelions become gray and white. They are also considered lucky if a bride carries them in her bouquet.
In Australia, dandelion is usually referred to as a weed and generally sprayed with poison or pulled out.
3. How to store fresh Dandelion. Rinse the dandelions in cool water and let them dry thoroughly on a kitchen towel before wrapping them loosely in a slightly damp paper towel. Store them in an open plastic bag in the vegetable drawer of the fridge to keep them crisp.
Where did we get the idea of making a wish on dandelions? The story goes, if you blew all of the seeds of a dandelion at once, the person you loved would love you back. Each time you wish upon a dandelion you are sending anywhere from 54-172 seeds into the air.
We cannot grant wishes for vehicles (cars, etc), homes, firearms or cash. There are age restrictions for certain wish types. There are also restrictions on travel to countries with U.S. State Department travel advisories.
The bright yellow Dandelion flower is a symbol of growth, hope, and healing. The greatest significance comes from its unique and instantly recognizable seed head, rather than the sunny flower. The seed heads are commonly picked and blown to make a wish, spreading the seeds at the same time.
"In Chinese culture, the chrysanthemum is offered to elders as a symbol of longevity and good luck," Enfield says. Gold chrysanthemums may be especially auspicious, as they are said to represent wealth and prosperity.
Some of the luckiest plants to keep at home are the Jade Plant, Holy Basil or Tulsi, Citrus Tree and Money Tree or Pachira Aquatica. Other popular plants regarded among the luckiest plants are Peace Lily, Snake Plant, Rubber Plant, Lavender, Blue Singapore Orchid, Eucalyptus, and Desert Rose.
The pink Carnation embodies the sentiment that says "I'll never forget you" and is aptly so a Mother's Day flower. Nothing shows love and affection like a red carnation in a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
Each seed is attached to a characteristic fuzzy structure called a 'pappus' that allows the seed to be carried by the wind.
LIFE CYCLE OF A DANDELION
The florets develop from the center, blooming into a circular flower head. After flowering for a couple of days, the flower head closes and the seeds develop inside the closed head. As the seeds form, the flower stalk extends higher so that it can reach the breeze.
Its name comes from the Latin Dens Leonis; the French translation of which is dent de lion, meaning lion's teeth, perhaps describing the plant's tooth-like leaves. The English changed this phrase to dandelion.
Dandelions spread quickly because their seeds can travel up to 5 miles. That equates to 88 football fields! They're also called pioneer plants or ruderals because they are the first plants to grow on land that has been disturbed (like land after a wildfire).
Dandelions have been called lion's-tooth, cankerwort, Irish daisy, monk's-head, priest's-crown, puffball, blowball, and milk-, witch-, or yellow-gowan (3).