Tuesday, April 20, 2010

I've Got the Power, Flower!

Today the dandelion is my favorite flower. I had a chance to tell an Ojibwa dandelion story from Anne Pellowski's Hidden Stories in Plants today. I've been wanting to tell it for a long time. I'm not inclined to transcribe it tonight, but storyteller Fran Stallings retells it here and gives it pretty good alternative attribution, too. The tricky bit for me was that I wanted to tell this story with props. I wanted to have on hand both a fresh, young, yellow dandelion and a gray dandelion gone to seed. Dandelions only last a day after you pick them, so they have to be picked on the day you will use them. Usually the patches of flowers I find on storytime day are either all yellow or all gray, but today I found both together! Over ripeness is the other problem. Oftentimes you will pick a gray puff and it will be very delicate and the seeds will all blow away. But today was PERFECT! Today the three or four gray-headed girls that I found were not yet too ripe so I was able to pick and transport them with most of the seeds intact, and the fresh yellow flowers were tall and at their most beautiful because no one has mowed their lawns yet. And to top it off, little yellow-haired Alison called out, "Can I hold it?" so I had a golden-haired maiden who stood in the front of the audience and held a dandelion during the story. Thanks, story gods!

I also brought some bleeding hearts picked fresh from my garden--pink and white both--had a lovely time sharing my bleeding heart obsession!

13 comments:

B.M.P said...

Hellllloooooooo Auntie Lynne How r u? Um i was just wondering if u good help me get a book. can u check ur library if u have any books from the "Sebastain Barth ANMysteries" can u try to get a book from the series the author is James Howe Thank u

ArtDot said...

Well, you won’t find any dandelions in our yard as Art has already mowed 4 times! Your Bleeding Hearts are blooming? Didn’t think it would be warm enough. This spring has been the best since we’ve lived here. Unusually warm and the flowering trees and shrubs have been spectacular. No storms to destroy the foliage.
Enjoyed the photos from you and Julia. You did and saw a lot in a short time. XXOO

Uncle Fred said...

Lynn I look at your whatever and do not understand most of it so please remove my name However if you have anything tosay please sent a normal email at any time cheers Uncle Fred

Eve said...

Hi Lynn. I checked out one of your faves: TinyHouse blog. Love it. That got me to thinking about one of my many preoccupations: treehouses. I googled "treehouse blogs" and found "Treehouseguy." I'm hooked. For many years (adult years) I have dreamed of inhabiting my own treehouse -- for working, reading ... hiding in! Be well.

Lynne said...

Hi Gerry-Yup. Nieces. My sister Sandy’s daughters.

Lynne said...

OK, Uncle! I’ll take your name off!

Lynne said...

Hi Eve-
I also have a treehouse obsession!
Lynne

Lynne said...

Hello B.M.P.!
I will look for that series while I am at work today. Stay tuned! (and I will return your Fablehaven book next time I see you-thanks)

Lynne said...

OK-we have five different Sebastian Barth books. Which one would you like?

B.M.P said...

Dear Auntie Lynne Just a reminder anything but what eric knew i already read that



Love
B.M.P

Lynne said...

Thanks, B.M.P-I'm on it!

Jeff Wignall said...

Dandelions make excellent bunny food! Why does everyone dislike dandelions!

:)

Lynne said...

Why does everyone dislike bunnies? (in the garden)