response 128 of 172:

Jun 26 08:03 UTC 1997

You could dig the dandelions up in the spring befor they flower and
eat them.  They make great salad greens, but they become bitter when
they flower.  You can also make dandelion wine out of the flowers.
I have a whole book of dandelion recipes.

response 132 of 172:

Jul 2 00:42 UTC 1997

I've been thinking about calling dandelion seed stalks "ugly". I was at
the St. Louis zoo a couple of days ago, and got a bit annoyed at other
visitors (and their kids) calling this or that animal "ugly". Yes, there
was a gecko that did not look like Bambi, but I am sure that in the wild
the species is rerproductively successful - and indeed those dandelion
stalks *are* reproductively successful. They are, in fact, marvelous
instruments of that - what's "ugly" about that? Nevertheless, I have an
aversion to their appearance, but now recognized that that is MY fault -
perhaps genetic, but overcomable with education and tolerance.

response 134 of 172:

Jul 2 11:53 UTC 1997

Dandelions are truly amazing plants!  I have pulled budding dandelions out
by the roots, tossed them into the wilderness between us and our neighbors
only to have them caught by some branch and just dangle there.  Within 24
hrs. that same uprooted dandelion will have flowered and turned to seed while
hanging there!
 
This year my kids picked several dandelion flowers, laid them in a plastic
pie-tin and filled it with water.  It sat around outside for several days
but most of the flowers managed to bend their heads up and go to seed, all
without the remainder of the plant!

response 136 of 172:

Jul 2 20:52 UTC 1997

Yes, adjusting attitudes *is* more difficult than spraying poisons.
Ants and centipedes can be health hazards. I doubt that dadelions are
(also, they are not in your house - I presume you tolerate ants and centipedes
outside?)

response 138 of 172:

Jul 2 21:44 UTC 1997

By the way, I have it on good authority that certain people have
formed the impression that I use pesticides and herbicides
extensively. This is not true -- I recognize the hazards to the
environment and use them quite sparingly. If the weeds aren't
too bad in a given year, I won't use them at all. If things
are getting out of hand, I use a little. I try to limit my use
to a maximum of once a year, and as I said I'll skip years when
things aren't getting out of hand.

My usage sounds not unlike Rane's, actually.

response 140 of 172:

Jul 3 05:35 UTC 1997

The impression might be conveyed by a seeming great interest in Lawn Care.
I tolerate the stuff, but would prefer alternatives, such as a real meadow.

response 142 of 172:

Jul 3 12:20 UTC 1997

Every five years or so I trim the sod that grows onto the sidewalk with
my spade.  I found that these trimming make *great* sod to patch barren
spots in the yard.  I just lay them in the bare spot, soak them with water
and walk on them, while soaking wet, to make sure they are in intimate
contact with the barren soil.  Doing this is important as otherwise the
sod will dry out easier.
 
Ants and centipedes can be a health hazard?  How so?

response 144 of 172:

Jul 3 18:18 UTC 1997

Centipedes bite?  OK.  So do dogs, cats, mice, hamsters, some large
carnivores pet fish, snakes, spiders, etc.

response 146 of 172:

Jul 3 22:25 UTC 1997

All I know is the guys come and spray some stuff and leave little signs
warning people not to even go near the grass, much less walk on it, and
it's green and lush all summer long, and I give lots of money to the
various "green" people when they come around.

response 148 of 172:

Jul 4 18:25 UTC 1997

Re #144: Also professional boxers.

response 150 of 172:

Jul 5 18:08 UTC 1997

We don't keep those.