Macro Monday: Gone to Seed

~ oneletterup

How many of you used to look for those white puffballs as a kid? Those mysterious used-to-be dandelions with fuzzy heads that mysteriously appeared every year – sprouting up in lawns most everywhere.

I did. I was never disappointed.

I’d gently pick one…carefully…at the base of the stem…and then blow the fluffy hairs all over the place. Or run around and wave it back and forth until the fluff was gone.

If I was really lucky I found a perfect one, all hairy things (as I called them) still attached. It didn’t go over too well with my parents who were trying to rid the yard of dandelions.

Those are the seeds. Stop! Those are the seeds!

OH WELL!

There are plenty of dandelions where I live now and nobody would care if I were to resurrect such rebellious behavior from childhood. I don’t think it is listed as a prohibited activity in the long list of condo Rules and Regulations.

However, now…I have a healthier respect for the natural progression of all things nature – as well as the fact that running through the woods waving an old dandelion would not be nearly as easy and carefree as it used to be.

I’d rather take its picture…

Dandelion gone to seed

It got me thinking…what is a dandelion called when it gets to this stage of life…besides “old dandelion”?

How does it get from yellow petals to white seeds?

Apparently – and unsurprisingly – I’m not the only inquiring mind that wants to know. So for those interested…Ms. Google pointed me to a demonstration of the process on (where else) YouTube.

However, I could not find a consensus about an actual name for this stage except “white seed head”…”sometimes called blowballs or clocks.”

Mmmm…I think I prefer “puffball.” It has a nicer ring to it.

Published by oneletterup

20 thoughts on “Macro Monday: Gone to Seed”

      2. I didn’t know that! That’s great. (I actually just got back from a walk…spotted one perfectly full of seeds and picked it and waved it around. Seeds everywhere. It felt strangely liberating.) 😎

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      1. I wonder if there’s a way to preserve the full “puff” of seeds and stem…probably not, they’re so fragile…but they’d make beautiful table decor.

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  5. Yes! I called them puffballs growing up too. And taught my kids how to spread them by running through the patches in our yard and watching all the little seeds fly all over the place. It was me being an adult rebel as I remembered playing the role of a child having to dig all the dandelions out of the yard while I grew up. After watching the video, now I’m wondering if those tiny bugs on the stem play an important role in seed formation? The tiny world at our feet sure is fascinating eh? Great macro shot by the way!

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    1. Thank you! What sweet memories you made for your kids while being a rebel. I love it 🙂
      Yes I noticed those bugs too and I have no idea what their significance is. But I imagine there is something!

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