Wasburn, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) – Some see the dandelion simply as a weed…but others view it as a docile wildflower.

"For the bees, it's one of the first real nectar fruits that they can sample and for a lot of other animals it's an early food source, like for bears coming out of their dens they eat them like popcorn-- I've seen 'em," said Michael McKenna, Organizer of Dandelion Days.

Michael McKenna knows all about dandelions... as a beekeeper and environmentalist... and knows just how much power these plants can hold.

"It's a very beneficial weed and it's a very important plant, so if we could take care of the dandelions and the water, we take care of the pollinators-- it's just a very strong ecological message," said McKenna.

As bee populations around the world have been crashing -- in part triggering rising fears about our own environmental future, McKenna was driven to take action... helping to host Washburn’s first dandelion days festival last year... and a second this past weekend.

"Ultimately it's just to increase peoples' awareness to our relationship with the natural world..."

"I think it speaks of the times, the awareness of bee decline, insect decline, making sure people understand the importance of dandelions, everything from their different uses," said Jonathan Walburg, Lake Superior Pottery.

"We can look at something and say, "oh, I don't like that, it's a weed," but it's a blood tonic, you can make tea out of it, coffee, you can use the stems for straws... you can make food, you can make salads-- every part of the plant's useful."