I was bouncing around my favorite social networking site the other day, when I was struck by the photo above. Birdie has it captioned with a famous movie quote… “…put your lips together - and blow.”.
I immediately thought “Noooooo!” as of course that is how dandelion seeds are spread.
Who would knowingly want to spread dandelion seeds? Certainly not any fuddy duddy grown up who is responsible for the care of a lawn.
So that leaves babies, toddlers, kids of course. And damnit if kids aren’t irresistibly adorable when they blow dandelions. They get all excited and squeal with delight. You can’t very well stop them when they start puffing those little feathery seeds all over the back yard. And there’s no way you can yell at them.
I think it’s somehow related to they way babies are cute to charm us into taking care of them. Babies are a one way street of hard work, sleep deprivation and stress. Why do we jump through hoops for them? Why, they aren’t even aren’t able to show love back to us in the beginning. Kids own us.
It appears as though the dandelion has figured this out! As I commented to Birdie the other night, it’s an amazing evolutionary movement. Smarty pants dandelions know that we can’t stop kids from blowing seeds all over creation! How many other living things leverage the cuteness factor of our children to maximize their reproduction?
Seed dispersal by adorableness. Brilliant!
Sure dandelions would probably get by alright just waiting for a breeze come along, but then I wouldn’t have a blog post here.
Ah the wonder of nature. So, go ahead put your lips together - and blow. Just not in my backyard.
10 responses so far ↓
1
Birdie
// Jun 24, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Dude. you’re brilliant. I laughed, I cried (nostalgic mommy tears). That was like a morning jaunt through the world of flora, fauna (of the kid sort) & parenthood all at the same time. I also enjoyed the notoriety…I was all like ,”Hey! I’m on PG’s blog!! Me! Little Birdie!! *chirp* tee hee Thanks for the fun!
Birdies last blog post..
2
Huckdoll
// Jun 24, 2008 at 12:51 pm
That was a very cool post, PG!
3
BusyDad
// Jun 24, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Can’t argue with that one. I chase my kid with the Round Up Weed Killer, but I still let him do it!
BusyDads last blog post..The Little Things
4
Wayfaring Wanderer
// Jun 24, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I actually love when dandelions cover our yard, although we don’t currently have many.
“If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn.”
Wayfaring Wanderers last blog post..Sweet Treats
5
VegasDad
// Jun 24, 2008 at 7:20 pm
What’s a few dandelions in the yard. Let the cute kids blow away. Great post.
VegasDads last blog post..random news you can use
6
Joe in Haddonfield
// Jun 24, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Dandelions are even more effective as a metaphor:
http://www.centuryfurniture.com/
We just completed work on a micro-site for a client: social networking with a social conscious twist loaded with dandelion image/animation. Then we stumble across this furniture group.
7
Ed (zoesdad)
// Jun 24, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I’ve given up! Our dandelion season is over for the most part. But I quit trying. Stopping one kid from spreading the love is one thing–try stopping five. They win!
Ed (zoesdad)s last blog post..Don’t Drink the Water
8
Kim
// Jun 25, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Being lawn care challenged I don’t see the big deal with wishin on dandelion’s.
I do love that picture..
Kims last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - Morning Creeping In
9
Secret Agent Mama
// Jun 26, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I agree, this post is MOST excellent, and I LOVE that photo.
Secret Agent Mamas last blog post..The Movie of my Youth
10
dlyn
// Jun 27, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Unfortunately, you could not be more right - the little darlings are directly responsible for over 1 million dandelions in my very own yard. Good thing they are cute grandchildren!
dlyns last blog post..Riley isn’t happy with me ….
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