Ignorance is bliss, as they say, and to that end, local bees are in nectar heaven right now with the blooming of local dandelion

fields, also called 'lawns' in the common vernacular speech.

Bees and their various pollinator cousins, you see, can't tell the difference between a perfectly good garden daisy and its dreaded cousin the dandelion, bane of all green lawns.

For the bee it seems, nectar is honey, and honey is food for

the young, once the nectar is processed through the adult bee's digestive tract-it's how nature works.

See DANDELIONS Page 9

Solve the dandelion menace safely with kitchen vinegar as a “Best Choice” solvent to destroy the tap root, thereby getting

rid of the flower weed while keeping busy worker bees like

the one above safe from harm, and the human landscaper safe from dangerous pesticides.

FROM PAGE 3

That being said, those who wish to see dandelions gone may still do so in a manner which is not harmful to bees or humans, which cannot be said for cancer-linked Roundup, which also kills bees, alongside Colony Collapse Disorder.

We mean kitchen vinegar. Because vinegar is a technical acid and the dandelion's well-known hardiness and regenerative powers ultimately come from its buried if unseen taproot, pouring kitchen vinegar on the taproot to thus dissolve cell walls and render the root 'inert' in terms of grow-back power is a safe and effective way to be rid of the lawn pest that is the dandelion long-term, should one wish to be.

Simply clipping off the head of the flower weed, meanwhile, doesn't solve the issue. All too often, it multiplies them, especially with seeds being dispersed. Killing the taproot, takes care of the problem, though one should wear gloves, as vinegar is a mild acid that may irritate the skin.

In the meantime, bees can continue their nectar-driven bliss and spread pollen to produce fruit, nature's version of dessert. No bees, no fruits-no apples, oranges or strawberries We leave out flowering asparagus as a not-so popular yet important source of both fiber and vitamins. At any rate, 'bee kind' and consider the consequences when choosing that summer weedkiller-with options including common kitchen vinegar, available through your local grocery store, in the salad dressing aisle.