Dandelions

Look out for dandelions – not too hard to find. While this perennial plant keeps its leaves during winter and occasional plants bloom from January, the splash of yellow is now everywhere on roadsides, grass verges, weedkiller free unmown lawns and urban areas. They are opportunists, surviving in crevices with infertile soil and arid conditions. Bright yellow is visible from a distance, reflecting light and heat – useful in spring with fewer flowering plants and insects around. Over a hundred insects use dandelions, including bumblebees, honeybees, solitary bees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths and pollen beetles. While it may be hated by some gardeners, it is part of our native Irish biodiversity.