The Delirious Dandy's Of Parkside!

 Anyone get the hint?  I'll give you a couple more....

 

Ok,   Spring is finally coming into view.   And you can tell...  by the flowers in Parkside.   

Whenever I run in the park,  I now can see the daffodils that line the path.   They only last about a week, so this year, I finally brought my camera along to take a few pictures.   

They are kind of cool.   And since this is one of the first flowers you see that are of any size and number,  They end up being pretty spectacular.  

There are also the Dandelions.   They have just started popping up and I was going to harvest some for Mom's traditional "German Potato Salad"  (Which is not German... and not really a salad.)  It had potatoes in it.... so that part of the name is correct.    And although Mom took the recipe to her grave....  I managed to reverse engineer it!   A couple of reasons  I was able to pull off this feat is because one:  I ate a LOT of it growing up.    And two:   I know Mom...  And she was not a very good cook.   

That isn't entirely true.   She was a "Camp Cook!"  You know...  Put it all in a huge pot and boil it until all the flavor and texture has evaporated.   Then serve it up on paper plates and yell at anyone who complains or refuses to eat it. That was Mom.

But if the recipe was easy,   she could actually pull it off now and then.   And that is where the Dandelions come onto my radar.   

If you do any research at all, you will find that they are a very valuable weed.   Deep tap roots punch through the clay barrier, aiding in soil drainage.   Nutritious minerals make it a valuable food source.  They flower early helping spring pollinators. And they continue to flower all summer long,  maintaining a stable food source for insects even during drought.  

And they have a wonderful yellow flower that turns into a toy kids can play with.  What's not to like?

Oh, Sure!   Big Turf would have you believe that those pretty little yellow flowers are the DEVIL!  But they are just trying to sell you poison for your yard, so you can kill the flowers... and the worms.. and the mushrooms, and pretty much everything else that lives in the soil of your yard that is not your grass.   If you like poisoning your yard,  you dog,  your kids, and your neighbors....  By all means,  Wage war on the dandelion!  Cute little dandelions...   Just trying to help humanity and getting persecuted for it. 

But I digress!  Dandelions are Edible!   And a wonderful foraging opportunity for those of us in the know.  I'll see if I can harvest some tomorrow,  now that the rains have sped up their growing.  

In addition to the Daffodils and Dandelions,  There were Daisies!   

Well,  I know they are not daisies.   But I was going for alliteration.   Not sure what flower this is,  but it is popping up in the forest on the hill.  

Sticking with the "D" theme... There was also the Dryad Saddle.   Also known as the Pheasant back.   An edible mushroom that comes out in the spring and the fall. 
  Spring time is the best time to gather them, because they are not filled with bugs and you have the best chance to harvest them before they get too tough! I know this log from last year,  so I have been keeping an eye on it and today I could see a few mushrooms "Pinning" through.   Depending on the weather,  they may be ready to harvest in a day or two. 

D is also for DOG!   Today Parkside was filled with Dog Walkers!   One couple had 5 dogs with them!   As opposed to several  couples who only had one dog.  (Try explaining those  sentences to someone who had trouble with English.... Like a Physics Word Problem...  "How many Dogs are there?")

I love Dogs!   As much as I write about them, you would think I would have one as a pet.   But running outside and petting other people's pooches is enough for me.   No feeding,   no bathing,  no vet bills.    And best of all I don't have to pick up any Poo while in public!  ( Or private!  I personally try to make it my goal NOT to pick up Poo... From anything or anyone!)   

That last little tid-bit of information probably explains a lot about me and the life choices I have made.   Why I'm not a Doctor... Or a Plumber!  Or a Farmer.  Etc...   Butt I digress!

I should also mention I saw a Raccoon near the creek.  
He looked like he was just chillin' in the sun and soft grass,  so I left him alone.    It is rare to see one during the day,  unless they are living it up in a dumpster outside McDonald's!  (But that is another Story....)

I bring up the park sightings because I have now run the 6 mile loop twice!   And today was a sore day for me.   But the Half Marathon is a little over a week away, and I still have to do a long run.  It is going to be tough, and I am not the best trained for it.    Honestly,  the thought has been coming up in my head that I should just skip it!   That is when  I have to remind myself that my goal is to finish and survive... Not win it.   In the long run,  I am in a race against Death.... And Death ultimately will win.  But I want to make sure it is not easy and not for a long, long time.   

And besides.  I know where I'm going.   So death is not as scary as all of those Hollywood movies make  it out to be.  So if God calls my number,  I'll be ready!   (As long as it is not during the race... that would be embarrassing...) So until them,  I have to make every second count!