Dandelion clock and old age
The dandelion clock is a symbol for old age — extremely old age. It stars in the logo for 90 Plus Group. We use theatre to combat ageism — and have a lot of fun. Although we’re an informal group, not a legal entity, we needed a logo, of course.
But why a dandelion?
A dandelion grows old in front of our very eyes
Neil Bromhall made a time lapse video of dandelion flowers growing very old. It’s a performance! It’s a drama! It’s theatre!
The dandelion seed head has so many subtle and positive connotations for me. Here are a few in an instant poem.
90 plus (instant poem)
The dandelion clock is ticking 90, 91, 92, 93 holding on and ticking 99 for me, 94 for you The dandelion flower imagines fading, shrivelling, shedding not exploding into something shimmering and new Extremely old, the dandelion floats a little fragile fractures with a whisper seeds a generation makes a wish come true
I’ve barely touched the surface of this comparison. Do you have memories of blowing the dandelion clock? Did a wish come true when with one breath you blew off all the seeds?
More about 90 Plus and The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People
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I don’t think I ever called them dandelion clocks but they are still a favorite of my young grandsons and the older one’s interest in those bright yellow flowers that turned into such an entertaining past time as they age. I think it is a universal title. Wishing you the best of luck with your production and what a great video!
Thank you thank you! Happy the dandelion games continue.
My friends and I have come up with a series of radio shows dealing with aging issues. We call ourselves the Jewels of Denial and range in age 60-80. We write our own material based on personal experiences and have a blast doing it.
Good to know! Thanks for telling us.
Oh Wow, Rachel, the dandelion image is perfection… in my opinion… and the beauty and eventual fragility and yet too, as we blow on those dandelions as kids, we know, there’s always a stubborn one that hangs in there, resilient… and your poem is just gorgeous.
You’ve reminded me of that last seed that needs three or four breaths to let go.
I love this ballet like growing and scattering of dandelions. Beautiful. It seems an appropriate logo.
So glad you see it that way, Sadje.
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Great poem, video, and an inspired way of describing the time line of the very old.
Delighted you see it that way, Margaret.
To be honest, I don’t really. I’m a mere 75, but
the future just seems to be a time when the choices one can make become fewer and fewer.
Frightening.
Dandelion clocks are so easily dispersed.
But they send seeds everywhere.
But beautiful while they are together?
I think you’ve picked a perfect logo here Rachel. It is natural, complicated, yet simple, and often appears unbidden. When it does it is beautiful, entertaining, and is a joy to behold. A lot like older people!
Entertaining: yes! I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks Peter.
I never thought of dandelions as “dandelion clocks.” But the poem and symbolism matches it pretty well, and I doubt I ever see a dandelion again without wondering how long before I am just a fluff in the wind!
I think there are worse fates than that one.
Another wonderful reason to add to my collection as to why I enjoy dandelions so much. The best reason is they bring out the inner child in most of us. I love the poem.
The inner child! Perfect. Thank you.
I think this is just lovely. A beautiful poem, and the thoughts of how the dandelion bursts into some sort of fireworks instead of shriveling is wonderful.
In my Bible Study at church, there are 3 nonagenarians and 3 octogenarians. I am sixty. All my assumptions are gone now, as I listen to them.
It is so good to be mixing with those much older people and to notice their approach to life. And to think, Hmm, so I could tackle old age this way, or that way…
I do kind of feel as if I am training for the big game!