Dandy Lions Roar!

Some people hate them, and spend hours and hours battling them every spring. Some people tolerate them, some love them. I think they are like a field of sunshine.

The perfect medium for a couple of outdoor art installation projects.

Or a subject for a lino print.

And did you know that many parts of the humble dandelion are edible? Have you ever tried Dandelion Fritters? Now's your chance, while there are lots of golden dandelions outside, just waiting for you to pick them.

Dandelion Fritters

Ingredients:  4 cups of fresh picked (washed) dandelion flowers,  2 cups flour,  2 eggs,  2 cups milk

Mix the milk, flour and eggs and beat until blended well.
Warm some olive oil in a skillet on the stove (keep at medium heat). Holding the underneath of the flowers, dip into the batter until totally covered in the fritter batter then place into skillet, flower side down.
Once they are brown, flip and brown the other side. If need be, continue flipping until the batter coating is light brown.
Remove from oil and allow excess oil to soak onto a towel or paper towel.
Eat plain or drizzle with maple syrup, honey, or even roll them in icing sugar while they are still warm.
Be creative – add your favourite spices or herbs to the fritter batter!

Forest Ramble

The York Regional Forest trails are coming to life after a long winter. We walked part of Holledge Tract.... mostly flat, just a couple of small slopes. The woodland flowers are blooming.

Sessile Bellwort uvularia sessifolia also known as Merrybells or Wild Oats

Wood Anemone  anemone memorosa

Bulbous Buttercup ranunculous bulbosus  also known as St Anthony's Turnip!

Trout Lily erythronium americanum  also known as Adder's Tongue or Dogtooth Violet.

Star Wars and Sign Wars

 Do you know what day it is today? It's Star Wars Day...... May the 4th be with you!

I'll let you to celebrate this special Star Wars Day with whichever of the Star Wars films is your favourite.  Meanwhile.... in my small town just north of the big city, a bitter war of words is breaking out. A word of warning..... this could be rather punny.

And it's not over yet! We won't see the white flag waving for quite a while.

Note: Photos have been "borrowed" from the local facebook page. Not my camera work.

Spring is Sprung

Most of Spring is finally Sprung.... leaves are starting to appear on the bare trees and the April showers have boosted the brownish dead-looking winter grass to be a vivid green, and of course now dotted with pretty golden dandelions. 

The little garden in front of the train station is blooming with tulips, glowing in the sunshine.

The daffodils that were planted around the pond two years ago have started to multiply. The weather has been perfect for them... cool and rather damp, so the blooms last a long time. They wilt when it's hot weather in early spring... and so do I.

Meet Larry, Curly and Moe.  They look very happy sunning them selves on this flat rock at the edge of the pond, but sadly when I walked past a day later, someone had removed the rock.... so now where were the turtles going to bask in the sun? I hope someone will provide another rock for them.

As soon as they heard the click of the camera, all three sploshed back into the water, double quick. Obviously camera shy. 

Update: The rain raised the water level and I couldn't see the rock.... of course it's still there. Who would want to nick a rock? Sometimes I can be so dense.