PHOTO-A-DAY CHALLENGE

When Dandelions Turn into Tiny Parachutes and go Fly With the Wind

Week 144 of the photographic documentary of my daily life

Honestly, I wish I was more creative to write about more interesting things than flowers. I mean, really? Then, at least find a more fascinating blossom than a boring wildflower.

A dandelion

Of all of them, the most common one. Even kids know their name. And yet, I took this week more pictures of dandelions than of any other object on Earth.

Call me crazy but I love them. And not only because they are yellow.

Once dandelions lose their color and create a seed head filled with the tiniest parachutes that will transport the seeds across the world, that is when the real fun begins.

Because who, please tell me who can walk past a dandelion and not blow off all the seeds?

Yep, that was me. Last year once the meadow transformed and I picked up a bunch of dandelions to let the seeds fly through the sky. A friend of mine wanted to have a photoshoot with me but I wasn’t much into it.

I just continued doing what I loved most. Being in nature. Being childish. Having fun. And that was the result. Happy me with weird grimaces.

But let's get to the point of this week's photo essay.

Blowballs.

That’s what they are called. At least in British English. And while I try to write in American English, I much prefer the British word to the American one this time.

Americans call the seed heads of dandelions "clocks". The Brits came up with the word "blowball". I mean really? There is only one winner.

Apart from, yeah. The Germans for once found a very poetical word to describe something. Something not sounding harsh or aggressive.

Pusteblume.

But in the end, those are the translated words of blowball.

So, here we go. My week between dandelion and blowball fields.

And here I almost forgot I got a job too. Jumping out of planes with parachutes. A bit bigger and more complex than the ones dandelions have. However, in case you’re thinking I’m drifting off the topic once again sharing a picture of me in freefall holding a student stable for deployment altitude, you are wrong.

If you can shift your focus from what’s happening up there at 200kph and look down onto Earth, you might see those yellow fields. No, they are not dandelion fields. Mostly at least. Most of them are rapeseed fields in full bloom. But some, some of them are meadows shining with blooming dandelions. Cool isn’t it?

And yes, that is what I see while freefalling.

Sometimes at least…

The field in front of our trailer transformed into a sea of yellow-blooming wildflowers. You guessed it right. Dandelions. Just about two weeks ago they popped out of nowhere and changed the meadow forever.

Our deers wouldn’t come by anymore and I assume they don’t like feeding on dandelions. I saw instead more than once a bunny hopping through the tall grass in between the yellow blossoms.

It was a stormy day when I noticed the first flowers had transformed. From dandelion into blowball. The magic has happened.

Just one day later and I was walking back from work when I noticed these survivors. Growing in the path. Where everyone and anyone kept walking through, across and above. This is where one tiny seed once decided to settle down and grow. Nothing and nobody could stop him. Not the harsh living conditions, the painful hits from above or the unusual environment.

This seed decided to thrive.

And here we go. Three shining flower heads. Growing out of a gravel path. And you tell me once more you can’t do something… Just think of this little dandelion.

Wait what? I didn’t take a picture of a dandelion on Sunday? I guess I didn’t know yet what the theme of the week was going to be.

We drove home to visit my parents as we had a few days off. Sometime during the afternoon, I headed out on the balcony when this lilac was greeting me. I couldn’t resist and clicked a photo.

Nope. No dandelions on Monday. We went to the Frühlingsfest in Stuttgart. As far as I know, it is worldwide the biggest spring festival. Just about the counterpart of Munich’s Octoberfest. In a different season. In a different German city. With just as much beer.

David had never been. On either of them. Thanks to Covid. But this year we’ll tick off both. Visiting the Frühlingsfest on a rainy Monday at noon wasn’t the real deal but it gave him an idea of what the whole thing is about…

But back to my story. While we might never have had a spring this year, the dandelions have grown above and beyond. They sprouted everywhere. They bloomed. They transformed. And now they are ready to fly.

With their tiny parachutes.

Off you go.

Flying into unknown land.

Yes, this is our home. And the yellow meadow isn’t yellow anymore. When I looked out of the window earlier today, I thought for a second it had snowed.

But it didn’t. There are just about a thousand parachutes ready to be taken to the skies.

I walked around the field and into the forest to find out where this troop of parachutists was gonna go to. But I just found more of them. On the other side.

Blowballs everywhere.

This has been my week in photographs. 7 days. 7 photographs. Anyone can join. Once. Or weekly. It doesn’t matter. We welcome everyone! Dennett started this photography challenge in 2020 and many have participated ever since.

Erika / Eileen / K. Barrett / Juan / David / Mia / Susan / LensAfield / Kim / Barbara / Diana / Barb / Sandra / Shruthi / Ellie / Pene / Olive / Gustavo / Jane / Penny / Jillian / Shell / Ivy / Lisa / Lynne

And these are the previous weekly photo essays:

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