Every year people wage war on dandelions. When spring arrives, municipalities unleash the herbicides and residents bring the mowers and weed whackers to bear on the pesky plants. The little yellow flower is perhaps the most hated of any weed and its only crime is being amazingly hardy and prolific. If it was not for its ability to grow abundantly virtually anywhere the dandelion might have the bad wrap it has been slapped with – dandelions are actually quite useful. Not only are they a potentially healthy food source for people rich in vitamins and antioxidants, in fact it has almost as many uses - from salads to wines - as it is hard to kill. More importantly, it is becoming increasingly apparent dandelions are necessary for the survival of a number of insect species – such as honey bees. So what's the big deal? If you consider bees are responsible for the pollination of one-third of the food humans consume every day it becomes quite easy to see their survival is imperative, especially in the early spring when the stubborn plant is among the only sources of food for hungry pollinators. While the plight of the bee has been lamented for several years with populations on the decline, this year has been especially tough. Late cold snaps caused a jump in mortality rates. William Pratt of Ol’ Grumps’ Honey was not spared the effects of the inclement weather. He lost 30 per cent of his bee population over the winter, a figure on par with what other beekeepers have reported in other provinces. With mortality rates as high as they were this winter, added deaths due to lack of food is tragic and unnecessary. However, the only way to avoid those early spring deaths is with a change in attitude for many who view the dandelion with disdain. Even more important will be changing how municipalities approach dandelions. Most cities, including Calgary and Edmonton, have some form of spraying program for dandelions and Cochrane's bylaw that could result in a fine if one were to let dandelions grow unchecked on their lawn is not unusual. It is time for governments to rethink their war on the dandelion or they should at least hold off on the attack until later in the season when other pollen producing plants have bloomed Yes, verdant lawns and pristine emerald parks are nice to look at and but golden fields filled with buzzing insects are entirely more useful, not to mention a sign of a healthy ecosystem Our society needs to stop placing so much value on the superficially beautiful and elevate life and those things that sustain life - including our own - to the status they deserve. Dandelions and bees are up on the list.
