Welcome to the series of stories behind my Grandpa’s Glass photography portfolio. I posted the introduction to the series last Wednesday as a way to introduce you to Grandpa. This week, I thought these images of dandelions seem like a good place to start the series. In some ways, they are visual symbols of my grandparents and their lives.

My Grandparents called a small town in the Western area of Texas their home. This particular area of Texas is rich with red dirt and windstorms. My Grandfather was a farmer, so he had that connection to the earth. But, it is the windstorms that made the red dirt an ever-present ingredient as they carved out their place in life.

I think you will see a few parallels as I share my thoughts about the common, humble dandelion, so let’s get started.

The Dandelion

The jagged leaves of dandelions were often called “lion’s tooth” (dent-de-lion in French). This French term is the genesis of the dandelion name. It is also the first clue of their determination to rise to the challenges life throws at them.

A dandelion can grow just about anywhere. You can find them in cracks of sidewalks, parking lots… any pinch of soil really. It is an example of their ability to thrive against seemingly impossible odds.

The Roots

For most gardeners, dandelions are an unwanted weed. Their extensive root system stretches deep into the soil. It is this root system that allows them to thrive in situations all but impossible for other plants. As any gardener will tell you, it is also this root system that also makes it difficult to remove them.

As a result of this root system, the dandelion thrives under less than ideal situations. It is an illustration of perseverance and meeting life’s challenges.

The Seeds

As if their example of meeting life’s challenges isn’t admirable enough, they then delight us further. They send out a stem that produces a puffy, delicate ball of ephemeral, white seeds. I doubt there is anyone who has resisted sending these beautiful seeds floating in the air. Who can resist such a wondrous show with only one puff of breath?

And then there is the white color of the seeds. Isn't it appropriate that the white color represents wisdom, clarity, and purity? … the very ingredients needed for life’s challenges.

In many ways, the humble dandelion represents the life my grandparents created. Their life was not easy. The area they called home was not what one might consider hospitable, nor even beautiful. Yet, this is where the wind blew them. So, they dug in, set roots in the red dirt, worked, raised a family, and met the challenges life tossed their way.

I hope you will come back next Wednesday when I share another story from this series of images.