Dandelion 8, photo by Harold Davis.

Mostly, of course, I regard the dandelions as a pest in the garden. The kids love to blow them when they’ve gone to seed and make wishes. As a garderner, I dread the multiple propagation mechanisms inherent in this plant–although I’m mindful that the distinction between a flower and a weed is often largely a matter of definition.

Today the kids were playing in the garden, and this perfect dandelion gone to seed was in dappled sun and shade. How amazing the patterns and worlds inside the dandelion when I got really close with my lens! A whole universe filled with stars and worlds–the secret life of dandelions.