Dandelion Wishes

One day, on our weekly trip to the park, we were surprised by a yellow delight.

Children have a special relationship with dandelions. As one of the only flowers they can freely pick, dandelions are a source of wonder and creativity.

They embody all the joyfulness of childhood. Who doesn't remember picking these as a child and blowing the seed heads? Remember the hope and wishes we put into those little balls of fluff? Did you ever sing "Momma had a baby"? Or rub the petals into your arm to smear on the sunny yellow?

At what point did our love of these happy little flowers turn into the disdain most of us adult now hold?

The simple joy of dandelions has carried through to our newest generation. The children delighted in harvesting and playing with the flowers.

 The whole field was a sunny yellow, and it formed a magical, beautiful backdrop for their games.

"It's just so beautiful!"

In the shade of a picnic table, friends taught each other how to make bracelets and other jewellery.

Ella- "How do you make a bracelet?"
Lily- "1st you put them in a pile and pick a good one with a long stem.
Then you  make a hole and poke another stem through."

"The inside is slimy! It smells like avocado."

Back in the classroom, we used  the flower heads to create some art.

"It's kinda turning watery from the juice."

"I used my imagination!"

"I'm squishing it down to make it flat!"

 Upon experimentation , the artists found that the closed flower heads made the best paintbrushes.

"Squishy! Splashy! Look at that splash! Splash!