17" Dandelion Flower and 14" Leaf

In good wet soil when mixed in with tall grasses, Dandelions can compensate for their situation by growing much taller flowers and larger leaves. They can do this with great ease when they are motivated to rise above surrounding vegetation in order to get more light.

This pair are definitely keepers. A bunch dandelion leaves and flowers like these makes for a great addition to the evening culinary delights.

My preference is to finely chop and mix the dandelion flowers, stems, and leaves in with diced vegetables or toss them into a soup or sauce. These two, along with some of their siblings, found their way into a bean salad with diced radishes, carrots, herbs, and seasonings.

These are two very fine specimens. Notice how well formed and developed are the teeth on the leaf and the flower with its beautiful long stemmed curve.