Who decided that dandelions were weeds and daffodils were flowers?

A friend on Facebook asked this question. As a child I liked dandelions best, and I still love them. Cynically, I suspect that our preference has to do with control. Dandelions will grow and persist all on their own with no help from us (quite the opposite, in fact: they do just fine even if we work tirelessly to eradicate them). They are the essence of spring, really--wild and bright and joyous and unstoppable. They need only themselves.

Daffodils, on the other hand, while not exactly delicate, need us. At least they benefit from our ministrations and submit to our tender control. Daffodils do what they're told. If I plant daffies in my garden, they stay (more or less) in my garden. They bow their sunny heads to my seigneurial power.

The dandelion grows about me unbidden. It doesn't give a crap about my will. If I enjoy it, that's wonderful! If I try to control it, it puckers up and spits fluff on me.