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I live in one of those suburban neighborhoods where everybody tries to outdo their neighbor to see who can get the greenest, best looking front lawn. This year my neighbor across the street is so far ahead I'm about to give up completely. My view is beautiful, but I'm afraid his, as he looks to my house, leaves a lot be desired.

I have prided myself on doing the fertilizing and weeding myself. I don't need one of those lawn services to bring in the chemicals I can buy myself at the hardware store, so I usually just get out my trusty spreader and walk along throwing the little pellets on the grass.

But last year, after deciding that going "green" would be my contribution to the universe I then had to figure out how to get the dandelions out without using a weed killer. I considered carefully digging them out and then finding the recipe to make dandelion wine, but that seemed like double work when I could get the wine with a trip to the grocery store. But digging up the dandelions got rid of them and my yard remained totally green with the yellow spots gone.

One sunny day my little four year old grandson came over to spend the day with me. We couldn't find anything exciting to do so I suggested we go out and pull the weeds out of the flower beds, gave him a little shovel and set him to work digging holes where ever he wanted to but cautioned him not to dig up the flowers. I figured I could dig up the dandelions while he was pre-occupied with the dirt and the mess.

As I was digging I just threw the dandelions on the driveway so I could dispose of them later. After awhile I noticed that the weeds I had already dug up and thrown on the driveway were no longer there. A quick glance showed me that Jacob had been picking them up and then re-planting them in the flower bed in the holes he had dug.

I watched him working diligently for a little while and then walked over and asked why he had done that when he knew I was trying to get rid of those pesky weeds.

His answer was "Grandma, don't you know that God makes dandy -lions so that little kids can have flowers to give their Grandmas?"

I had never thought of that before, but he was absolutely right. All my grandchildren have always proudly given me all the flowering weeds and dandelions they pick in the yard, and I even have a small little vase I keep on the kitchen window sill for just that reason.

So now he has me feeling guilty about killing his gifts. But not enough that I don't sneak some out every once in awhile. I dig them up in the front yard, but leave them alone some places in the back. That way I am guaranteed to receive flowers from my little buddies on a regular basis.

Learn more about this author, JoAnn Powell.
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