Editor's Note: From time to time we will be using some of Helen Andrews' articles, both old ones and some newer ones. We hope you enjoy this one.

 
Our lawn is buttoned down with golden dandelions. In a few days it's covered with silvery gossamer globes. Each tiny fairy wing is tipped with a little brown seed. Caught by the wind, these seeds fly off to land somewhere to start a new plant.

What a find for some of the birds. I looked out one day and there were two white-crowned sparrows and a chippy plucking the seeds and scattering the wings. I kept watching to see who would be next to find this ready food supply: more sparrows -- three of them were Savannahs, their yellow eye stripes nearly as bright as the flowers that produced the seeds -- more chippies and a few song sparrows.

Census day I looked in vain for them. Jim had just mowed and it takes a day or two for the dandelions to bloom and go to seed. But Sunday, there they were again. We see very persuasive ads for turf builders, and all sorts of chemical means to "beautify" your lawn. Our lawn may not be all green or even all grass. There are violets and clover, as well as dandelions; but I'll take the dandelions and sparrows any day over all grass done with turf builders. No chemicals on our lawn!

Have you ever looked closely at a dandelion flower? Have you ever had beautiful Savannah sparrows feeding outside your window? That's what I call a beautiful lawn!

Reprinted in Wings Over Dutchess, September 2002

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