Love and Hate

Chantler's April 2014 Shakespeare Challenge - Romeo & Juliet

The themes of Romeo & Juliet are love and hate; how two people who belong to groups which hate each other, can fall in love. It is potentially the start of new understanding, about how the groups can learn to work together. However, in Shakespeare, and so often in real life, the two are castigated for daring to go against the group's wishes.

Dandelions are one of the most hated garden weeds. Neighbours get very annoyed if someone allows dandelions to grow unchecked, because the seeds disperse all over everyone else's gardens, and take root. More work for the gardeners.

But dandelions can be used. The leaves can be used in salads, and to make tea, wine or soft drinks. And why would you use them to make a drink - apart from the slightly chicory flavour? Well, the French word for dandelion is pissenlit. They are a diuretic. Or rather, they encourage the kidneys to produce urine. They are also quite beautiful, bright yellow and cheerful.

So what do you think? Should we continue to hate the dandelion, and seek their destruction at all quarters? Or embrace their good qualities, and welcome them into our gardens for more colourful lives?