Last summer in ND, I saw a giant dandelion for the first time. Now, in ID, I see them growing randomly in empty lots and along roadways. I never notice them until the wispy, globe-shaped seed heads form.

How do the dandelions get so big in the northern states? Extra daylight? More fertile soil? A plot of some kind?

I looked closer this year and discovered that the leaves don’t look dandelion-ish, yet the flower heads seem identical. Hmmmm. I looked closer at the seed heads and decided they are not truly identical to dandelions. What’s going on here? Are these giants really dandelions or an alien life form planning to take over the world? Is my life in danger because I am on to something sinister.

Turns out, my giant dandelions are a Giant Salsify, which has an edible root. If you are hungry enough, perhaps a pioneer traveling across the northern prairie, you can make a creamy soup from those roots, which tastes like oysters. And, dandelions and salsify are not even related. Mystery solved.

Speaking of dandelions, the real ones are escaping into state parks and national forests in the northern states. At first, the sight of true dandelions growing across vast tracts of open, preserved land horrified me. What have we done to our public lands? Oh my!!! Dandelions are spreading. Then, I read an article about how the ample dandelion seeds provide food for migrating and over-wintering birds. Whew! Since we have reduced bird habitat and food sources due to farming and development, the dandy’s presence is tolerable. More than tolerable. Anything that provides food for the shrinking bird populations is A-OK.

.