That's why we chose to grow them.
Cardoons.
Stunning in every season.
The wind has had it's way with dried out stems.
They still sway, taller than me.
Empty cells creak in the breeze.
Fallen branches crack into papery sticks.
Disappointing when dipped into ink.
Dry as polished wood.
Brittle as thorn edge.
Last Summer's flower heads start to fall to earth.
Worn out confetti.
Carefree hair.
Breaking apart.
Fading into monochrome.
The ground has sucked back the colours.
Gorged on the silvery greens.
Drunk that purple blue bee heaven.
Hoards them in the dark.
We pause to look.
Another kind of beautiful.
I also wrote a piece about cardoons way way back in the early days of Inkhaven. You can read the piece here. And if you do read it and wonder who Spot is, it was my aka name!
12 comments:
Cardoons .... I don't think I've heard of them before. They look interesting dried and of course your words make me even more curious.
Hi Robyn. It's an ornamental Mediterranean plant related to the globe artichoke, which has huge blue thistle-like flowers that draw the bees in.
__Very interesting photos
__Not aware of Cardoons, but never too old to learn, I searched. A day without gaining a tid-bit of info, is a waste.
__In searching... I found recipies for Cardoons, but from their responses, I think your word "ornamental," is probably the better use. Thanks, Annie. _m
Robyn -- Beautiful images! I, too, had never seen a cardoon, so thank you for sharing. Nature is amazing in its sculptural workings, isn't it?
these are very dramatic flowers and I love the last couple of stanzas of this poem :)
Hi Magyar. Thank you. No, we don't eat these. I've eaten their relatives - globe artichokes- in France. The whole flower head is boiled or steamed. The scale like bracts can be pulled off and you can bite at the base of these. Then you can eat the base of the flower, the heart as it is called. All served in butter. Get the napkins ready and be prepared for messy fingers! Some people think they aren't worth all that effort.
Hi Kelly. Thank you very much. These make such wonderful sculptures. I have to admit, After all the ice and snow we've had this year, I;'ll feel happier when I see these shooting new leaves from their base. Fingers crossed.
Hi Jeane. They are wonderfully dramatic all year round. I just love them. Thank you.
hmmm, not familiar with cardoons but your black and white images are gorgeous and so is the poem
Hi Donna. I think they are an "old fashioned" plant. Thank you. Pleased you liked the images.
Love the black and white images here. And so many stupendous phrases through out the verse!
Hi Seth. Pleased you liked them. I had fun taking them and editing them. Thanks.
Hi Annie, I wasn't sure what cardoons are, so I looked it up. Apparently they're a vegetable something like artichokes, which I would not have guessed by looking at your lovely photos of the flowers. But it doesn't really matter; the poem is strikingly beautiful, and you are an artist of words.
Hi Sharmon. Yes, they are related to globe artichokes not the potato looking ones. Anyway, pleased you liked the shots.
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