The mortal enemy of the traditional, lush lawn and the traditional yardener, the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), also called "Priest's Crown" and "Swine's Snout" is a flowering weed found in temperate climates. It makes its first appearance locally in the late spring, notable as a bright yellow bud which appears at ground level or on stalks up to six inches long. Within a few days, the bud sheds the yellow petals to reveal a translucent white globe of seedlings. The seeds become airborne and are extremely efficient. Dandelions can overtake a yard or field within a season. They continue to appear until the first freeze.
The extremely patient among yardeners dig dandelion roots out individually, but chemical weed treatments are much more common. Naturalists adopt a "live-and-let-live" approach, often to the scorn of neighbors, as a result of the downwind fog of airborne seedlings. Dandelions are also sometimes attributed medicinal value.
