The Dandelion

A retelling of a legend from long ago

 

 

A long time ago, three Angels were having tea.

“Of all the trees I am the angel for, my favorite is the Sugar Maple,” said the Angel of the Trees.

“My favorite berry is the strawberry,” said the Angel of the Berries.

The Angel of the Flowers looked at them with a perplexed look. “I don’t know what my favorite flower is,” she said. “Perhaps I should visit Earth and figure that out.”

She put down her cup of tea and winged her way to Earth.

When she arrived, she traveled far and wide, to find the flower she loved more than any other.

Soon she came to a magnificent garden beside a cottage. The garden, colorful and bright, was full of flowers of all kinds. But a gorgeous tulip, bright yellow, on a perfectly straight stem, caught her eye.

“You are beautiful,” said the Angel. “Of all the places you could live, where would you like to live the most?”

The proud tulip seemed to stand even straighter. “I am beautiful, tall and proud. I deserve to live at a castle, not by this little cottage. If I were at a castle, the royal people would see me in all my beauty and praise me. Like I deserve.”

The Angel felt sad. The tulip, although extremely beautiful was not her favorite.

The Angel traveled on. Soon she came to a brilliant pink rose on a trellis by a humble inn for travelers.

“Your color is amazing,” said the Angel. “Of all the places you could live, where would you like to live the most?”

The bright pink rose perked up and said, “I would like to live at a castle, where my beauty could climb the castle walls. Everyone visiting would tell me how wonderful I am which is what I deserve.”

The Angel felt sad again. The rose, brilliant as it was, would not be her favorite flower.

The Angel traveled on. As she walked down a dusty road, far out in the country, she came upon a tiny yellow dandelion growing beside the road.

“Why, you are far from everyone,” said the Angel. “Of all the places you could live, where would you like to live the most?”

The dandelion leaned towards the Angel in excitement.

“Oh,” she cried with glee. “I would love to live anywhere there are children. I would live in the cracks between stones, or by the side of the road, anywhere that I could bring happiness to children.”

The Angel clapped her hands and smiled.

“I have found you at last,” she said. She reached down and gently touched the small dandelion. “You are my favorite flower. From this day forward, you will grow everywhere possible, and for a long time from early spring to late fall, so that you can bring happiness and pleasure to children in all places.”

So, to this day, the dandelion can be found early in the spring until late in the fall, growing in fields, lawns, by the road, between rocks. The Angel gave the dandelion the honor of being her favorite flower, and along with that, the beauty and wonder of a long life bringing joy to children everywhere.

 

What is your favorite flower?

Have a great day.

Peace,

Nature Mamaw