Dandelion Clock

When I stop to look at a dandelion clock I am amazed at the detailed and intricate mechanism. Here we see the next generation of dandelions all packed up and ready for take off to wherever the wind blows. The next gust will pull those on the left away and tease some others out from the close huddle on the right.

We used to call them fairies as children and thought it was lucky when one came in the window. I don't think of them as so lucky when they grow on the back green - although it appears that the dandelion, or taraxacum, is a beneficial weed whose tap root brings nutrients up into the garden. Who knew?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum