Thanks in part to a slow churning weather front that produced several inches of rain last week, the yards of Rock County and the Midwest, for that matter, are dotted with tiny yellow heads.The fluffy and seemingly harmless yellow dots rising above the lawns made themselves known in massive numbers after yesterday’s sunny day. The rain, combined with a good dose of sunshine, helped their cause and now it would seem we have an epidemic.Last spring, everyone told us, "Oh, this is the worst year ever for dandelions; it is not always like this." Well, either we were being lied to, or this part of the country is the perfect breeding grounds for the little yellow flower.As a lover of color and flowers, I really don’t mind them growing in the meadows and yards around town. I remember playing with them as a child, making crowns for my head, staining my brother’s arm or chanting mama had a baby and her head popped off.But my husband, as well as many other men in the area, find them a nuisance and wish for their quick demise.So today, as I watch them swaying in the wind outside my window, I will offer first an argument for why these plants should be spared and finally for those I have not convinced, a few tips on how to make a swift kill.In defense of the dandelion …Dandelions have been used for centuries for both medicinal and nutritional purposes. Over the years they have had many interesting names. Some worth bringing back may be lion's tooth, piss-a-bed, yellow puffball, clock flower and swine snout.A quick search of the Internet for medicinal uses of the root and leaves of the dandelion plant yielded a large number of results. So, if the drug stores are closed or if you are the type of person with an aversion to doctors, you might want to get a bucket and start picking.The leaves and root help stimulate digestion and are mild laxatives.Dandelion juice has been used to eradicate warts and to soothe calluses, bee stings or sores.Many herbalists view the dandelion as an effective treatment for liver disease, and it can benefit the pancreas, kidneys, stomach and spleen. The dried leaf, taken as a tea, is used as a mild laxative to relieve constipation.Chinese herbalists still use the plant to treat cases of jaundice, hepatitis, red and swollen eyes, as well as urinary tract infection, abscesses, or firm, hard sores in the breasts. It is also said to be effective in increasing the production of mother's milk.Dandelion leaf is a good natural source of potassium and is tasty in salads.If you are still not convinced of the tiny flower’s merit, just drive by the Rez as the sun is setting. The long narrow strip of green grass seems to welcome the field of dandelions. The green of the grass hugs the base of the yellow plant. It is a much prettier picture of spring than if the field were simply green.Tips for their quick demise …None of this history or my logic as to the beauty of Mother Nature’s spring pallet has been enough for my husband to accept them in his yard. Last night the dandelions, along with many other unwelcome weeds, were drowned in a heavy dose of poison, courtesy of the folks at the New Vision Co-op in Hills.They recommended spraying the leaves of the plants with a weed killer containing 2.4-D. They sell the stuff as a concentrate and recommend applying it again in the fall. A check of the weather is required, because the product will not be as potent if it is washed away by the rain.For a less environmentally evasive way of ridding lawns of my yellow friends, try one of these organic methods. Although strange and probably more labor intensive, the Internet says they will work and you won’t have to worry about possibly killing the neighbor’s cat or dog with poison.Pour boiling water over dandelion plants and in 2 or 3 days the plants start to wilt away. If hauling around boiling pots of water doesn’t sound like a fun way to spend your Saturday, try using vinegar.A high concentrate of vinegar is an effective weed killer against annual and perennial weeds. The acid in the vinegar acts as an herbicide and kills the plant but does not pollute ground water.Finally, if all else fails, you can pull them out using a dandelion digger. This tool removes the root of the plant, forever banishing it from the soil. Story ideas or comments can be emailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.