Today is National Dandelion Day. Aren’t you glad there is a special holiday to celebrate them!? This April 5 holiday allows us to see the better side of this flower and edible vegetable. 

When you look at a Dandelion, what do you see? A flower, a vegetable, or a weed? Well, it’s all a matter of personal perspective. In the eyes of a child, dandelions produce beautiful flowers to bring home to mom. And, Mom thinks a dandelion is the most beautiful flower in the universe when her child presents them to her.

Any plant as versatile and durable as the dandelion certainly deserves a special day set aside to honor it. Even many gardeners think of it only as a weed. We all know of dandelions as weeds in our lawns.  But dandelions are oh so much more than just a weed. More knowledgeable gardeners know better. Dandelion leaves are edible and are savored in soups and salads. It is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and D. Dandelions are used in making wine and for tea, too. Native Americans used it for medicinal purposes.    

You can celebrate National Dandelion Day in many ways. Eat your lawn…..use this special day to introduce yourself to the joys of eating dandelions. However, it is taboo to pull dandelions or treat them like a weed today.

Caution: Do not use dandelions for food that come from treated lawns.

National Submarine Day is today. This April 11 holiday commemorates the commissioning of the USS Holland into the U.S. Navy on this day in 1900. At the time, this submersible boat was considered a modern-designed submarine. John. P Holland designed it. It ran on a gas engine while on the surface of the sea and used an electric motor while submerged under the surface. The engines were a much-improved method of propulsion. It sure beats the subs of the 1700s where sailors propelled them with oars.

Submarines have had a long and proud history of serving the navy and the country: They have served with honor and distinction in almost every war the U.S. Navy has been involved in. There are currently 72 submarines in the U.S. Navy. They are on patrol all over the world. 

Did You Know? In 415 BC during the Siege of Syracuse, the military used submarines.

Question: What is the world’s most well-known submarine? It’s the Yellow Submarine, written and recorded by the Beatles.

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, an April 2 holiday, celebrates the infamous and beloved “PB and J” sandwich. It’s the favorite lunchtime sandwich of American kids, and many adults, too. Some kids practically live on Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. Be creative and daring. While strawberry jelly is by far the most popular, there’s no requirement for the type of jelly. 

While you may focus on PB&J sandwiches, there are more things you can put peanut butter and jelly on. Toast is a good choice. English muffins are another good candidate. May we suggest peanut butter and apple jelly on your English muffins? It’s a great combination. Melba toast is another good one. And don’t forget snack time. Put peanut butter and jelly on a cracker for a great snack! Moms and dads often put peanut butter on celery for a healthy shack. add some jelly today.

The Great Sandwich Debate: How should you slice your peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or any sandwich for that matter? It’s an ageless debate. Do you slice a sandwich diagonally to form two triangles, or do you slice it across the middle, resulting in two rectangular halves? Don’t expect us to chime in with our opinion. Either way, we will make half of you upset with us! So, let’s cut to the chase….. the right way to slice your sandwich is the way mom did it when you were a kid.