Vancouver Flower Clock Project/Dandelion

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This is a Vancouver Flower Clock Project Journal Page for Species Taraxacum officinale, Common Names: Dandelion.

General Info

 * Bloom Season

Anywhere in the city that shows signs of human neglect. Cracks in the pavement, next to dumpsters,in front lawns that have not been mowed, empty lots.
 * Habitat

Stems
Releases milky substance when cut.

Flower
Yellow, narrow, long-ish petals.

Cultivation
Grows and spreads with no effort or assistance.

Medicinal/Food Use
Greens make an excellent salad. A little bitter but still good

Notebook
Share a poem, story, memory or anecdote about this plant. Include sketches, photographs and videos as well.

Chemcials used to kill dandelions: 2,4-D, Mecoprop, glyphosphate

Grab a dandelion and pinch just beneath the flower between your thumb nail and index finger. Say: "Moma Had a Baby and Her Head Popped Off" and flick the flower head as hard as you can. Their carcasses lie drying on the sidewalk, scattered over chalk drawings of the sun, dogs and secret messages.

The number of blows it takes to rid the dandelion of the fluffy bits corresponds to the time of day (elementary school-aged children, 1990's).

Log a Bloom Observation
To log a bloom observation, sign your name by typing "~". Please indicate if the time and date of observation are different from the time of signing. Be as detailed as possible in your description of the observation. Were the blooms open or closed? How long did you watch? Where were they situated? What were the weather conditions? Were there any surrounding plants, insects? What was your response?. Take a photograph, video or scan an image and upload it using Special:Upload.

7:00am-8:00am
75.157.141.10 14:49, 26 April 2009 (UTC) Closed for the most part- just starting to open. Bright, cloudless cool spring day. Flowers in full sun.

11:00am-12:00pm
64.180.70.105 18:38, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Open-looked out front window, about 13 c slightly overcast with sunny breaks

9:00pm-10:00pm
75.157.141.10 06:38, 2 May 2009 (UTC) Looked out bus window, Petals closed. Warm evening after a clear warm summer day. There is a group of teenage girls trying to set the seeding blumes on fire with their lighter.

10:00pm-11:00pm
75.157.141.10 05:24, 21 April 2009 (UTC)

Petals Closed