Fun story about dandelions and one about bees with them.

image from publicdomainpictures.net

Morning has a clear, blue sky.  We are above zero, but the wind is blowing so it is still negative wind chill. High today is 10F(-12C).  Average normal high is 29F, so we can look forward to a point where we will have that again.  Stay warm, stay safe.
 
Australia family and friends for their Wed Jan 28 still in extreme heat alert.  High today for them will be 86F(31C) and their low isn’t too low but 63F(17C). The app says they are 10 degrees above normal.  Also, they will have a wind so that will dry things out for them.  Stay cool, stay safe.
 
I found this article, which is fun about dandelions, and then I found one about bees using dandelions in the spring.  Both of them interesting read. 
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Long, long ago—thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of years ago—dandelions were known to be sacred and magical. The first humans on Mother Earth called them the “universe flower” because of their remarkable resemblance to celestial wonders. In bloom, they shone as bright as the sun. Once they turned to seed, they mirrored the glowing full moon. And when their delicate seeds floated away on the breeze, carried by hopeful breath, they became tiny stars dancing in the night sky.
The tradition of making a wish as you blow on a dandelion’s fluffy white head is one of the oldest customs in the world. Though much of their ancient magic has faded into the shifting sands of time, this simple ritual endures, passed down through generations.
Dandelions are far more than mere weeds. They are among nature’s most resilient and determined plants, flourishing in sand, mud, and even cracks in the pavement. Like all of nature’s creatures—be they plant, animal, or mineral—dandelions possess a quiet magic, but theirs is especially profound.
And they are not just beautiful; they are useful, too! Their golden blooms, tender leaves, and sturdy roots have been valued for centuries in teas, salads, and even as crispy, fried treats. A battered and fried dandelion head, golden and crunchy, is a Springtime delight. Their leaves add a peppery crunch to fresh salads, and dandelion tea is both soothing and healthful.
Despite their many virtues, dandelions are often unwelcome guests in manicured lawns and gardens. People mow them down, poison them, and pull them up by their roots, believing them to be nothing more than pesky weeds. But a yard without dandelions is a lonely place—devoid of the bees that sip their nectar, the butterflies that flutter among their blooms, and the birds that find joy in their seeds.
Children, however, know the truth. They see dandelions for what they truly are—treasures of nature. A bouquet of dandelions, clutched in a child’s tiny hand and proudly offered to a mother, is worth more than the grandest arrangement of roses. The soft white seed heads, so delicate yet full of promise, are nature’s invitation to dream. Blow and your wishes will travel to the heavens, carried on the wind like fairy wings.
Roses may speak of love, daisies may predict devotion, and lavender may soothe the soul—but only dandelions hold the power to grant wishes. A single breath upon a dandelion’s downy crown can send hopes and dreams soaring into the universe.
So, this Spring, consider leaving the dandelions be. Let them bloom, let them glow like tiny suns in the grass, let them transform into moons and stars. Let the bees find their nectar, let the children gather their golden bouquets, and let the wind carry our whispered dreams. For dandelions are not weeds. They are magic.
Taken fromhttps://foodgardening.mequoda.com/articles/the-magic-of-dandelions

This section is written by Robert Pavlis.  He writes in the first person, so that is who I is in the article. . 
Information from Do Bees Use Dandelions?
Bees do use dandelions for both nectar and pollen. They especially like a lawn that is full of them since this makes it easy for them to collect a load of pollen. According to the Honey Bee Research Station, it is not a preferred food, but it does help fill the gap when other sources are not available and in spring dandelions exist in abundance.
Bees First Food
I grow a lot of plants in my garden and I seem to remember many things flowering before dandelions (Taraxacum officinale). I spoke to one of the researchers at the Honey Bee Research Center, University of Guelph and asked him about the bees first food.
Around here, zone 5, Ontario, “their first important food source is tree pollen. Long before flowers become important, honey bees are in the top of trees collecting pollen. Maples, elms, poplars and willows are important as a first food” and they flower before dandelions.
“They gather dandelion pollen when other pollen is not available.”
Some trees are wind pollinated and produce a lot of pollen. They also have a very concentrated source which means bees don’t have to fly long distances between flowers to get it.
Do Bees Need the Dandelions?
Dandelions are not the first source of pollen for bees.
The pollen from dandelions is of poor quality, but better than nothing. They do provide a good source of nectar.
Keeping dandelions may keep bees from using fruit tree pollen which is a better quality of pollen. In this way dandelions may actually be harming bees.
A lawn full of dandelions is better for bees than a weed free lawn, but not nearly as good as a garden with a variety of plants and no dandelions.
If you must have a lawn, consider planting fruit trees, even ornamental ones, and skip the dandelions.
Taken from https://www.gardenmyths.com/dandelions-important-bees/
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse