I’m still here, which is proof. I don’t have a teacher and only occasionally does someone show me something on their phones so I start by licking, then very gradually move on to nibbling, and so on, till I know a plant. Even mushrooms, although with those I am even more cautious. But today, for example, I ate a couple of sow’s thistles, then I’m going back out to eat three times as much. Also the other kind of thistles that we had in Essex and that had the "antidote” for stings in a different plant nearby (now I just roll up the stingy leaf and soak it between my molars. If I’m guessing right, you can eat most any thistle in Ontario. Fingers crossed.
prolly an acquired taste. I love bitter so they taste okay to me. Not so nice when boiled but it’s gotta be good for you. Today I got distracted by jewelweed flowers, the first crop since October, and have yet to go for the sow’s thistles this afternoon. Sow’s thistle have a broad leaf with a perfect crunch. I mean, I think they’re sow’s thistles. I’m guessing that any of the leaves I routinely eat—dandelion, sow’s thistle, regular (maybe bull) thistle—could benefit from sweet vinegar (balsamic). If I wanted to make a nice salad right now (instead of just eating the ingredients on site), I could put together orange tiger-lily flowers, jewelweed flowers, blue chicory flowers including the bitter and tasty base of the flowers (chopped), dandelion leaves, sow’s thistle leaves, and balsamic. People with adventurous taste buds could probably enjoy that. A bit of bright yellow toadflax and purple thistle for color. I read this to my wife and she said she’d add peonies and roses because it’s fun to raid the neighbors. Actually she said cuz the orange tiger lilies, red roses, and yellow dandelion flowers are for the three lower chakras. But I’d feel bad about raiding dandelion flowers right now when they’re somewhat scarce. Not sure how much of this translates to, hmm, north-central England. I wish I’d known some of this when I was in Essex 2004-2006. My wife adds that some bushcrafter guy fries his thistles in garlic and butter and we’re both like: that’s cheating. But whatever gets you to eat thistles, am I right? Oh, and my wife reminds me that marigolds are edible, and we have a ton of seeds, so we should plant a bunch in the ditches next year.
A connection to the natural world often looks timeless in black and white, making tone and shape more pronounced and adding a mythological touch, you do this justice. I think you have very creative and poetic thoughts, reading what you have to say is always inspiring...
These are beautiful, Julie. Stunning pictures and equally stunning interpretations. I love this idea of viewing the world in monochrome and observing the structure.
The first one looks like Nature’s nod to the origami cranes, more than a 1000 are needed these days. I enjoyed each photograph, saw Africa before I read your thoughts.
Magnificent
Thank you. I’m not ‘a photographer’ but do like taking photos (just with my phone) and sharing my imagination.
I happened upon this just as I'm going out to the scrub lot to eat thistles. Hopefully it won't be so beautiful now that I'll end up not eating.
Can you eat then?
I’m still here, which is proof. I don’t have a teacher and only occasionally does someone show me something on their phones so I start by licking, then very gradually move on to nibbling, and so on, till I know a plant. Even mushrooms, although with those I am even more cautious. But today, for example, I ate a couple of sow’s thistles, then I’m going back out to eat three times as much. Also the other kind of thistles that we had in Essex and that had the "antidote” for stings in a different plant nearby (now I just roll up the stingy leaf and soak it between my molars. If I’m guessing right, you can eat most any thistle in Ontario. Fingers crossed.
And do they taste nice?
prolly an acquired taste. I love bitter so they taste okay to me. Not so nice when boiled but it’s gotta be good for you. Today I got distracted by jewelweed flowers, the first crop since October, and have yet to go for the sow’s thistles this afternoon. Sow’s thistle have a broad leaf with a perfect crunch. I mean, I think they’re sow’s thistles. I’m guessing that any of the leaves I routinely eat—dandelion, sow’s thistle, regular (maybe bull) thistle—could benefit from sweet vinegar (balsamic). If I wanted to make a nice salad right now (instead of just eating the ingredients on site), I could put together orange tiger-lily flowers, jewelweed flowers, blue chicory flowers including the bitter and tasty base of the flowers (chopped), dandelion leaves, sow’s thistle leaves, and balsamic. People with adventurous taste buds could probably enjoy that. A bit of bright yellow toadflax and purple thistle for color. I read this to my wife and she said she’d add peonies and roses because it’s fun to raid the neighbors. Actually she said cuz the orange tiger lilies, red roses, and yellow dandelion flowers are for the three lower chakras. But I’d feel bad about raiding dandelion flowers right now when they’re somewhat scarce. Not sure how much of this translates to, hmm, north-central England. I wish I’d known some of this when I was in Essex 2004-2006. My wife adds that some bushcrafter guy fries his thistles in garlic and butter and we’re both like: that’s cheating. But whatever gets you to eat thistles, am I right? Oh, and my wife reminds me that marigolds are edible, and we have a ton of seeds, so we should plant a bunch in the ditches next year.
"An eerie candelabra of pause..." Gorgeous.
Thank you :)
A connection to the natural world often looks timeless in black and white, making tone and shape more pronounced and adding a mythological touch, you do this justice. I think you have very creative and poetic thoughts, reading what you have to say is always inspiring...
Thank you Peter.
I appreciate that all the more from a fine photographer like your good self.
I live in a beautiful place so it always inspires. Nature never fails to inspire me, I have some wonderful little walks right on my doorstep.
Fabulous post and photos Julie! Black and white certainly changes plants and flowers!
Thank you, lovely. I enjoyed the experiment. :)
Julie, please do experiment more! This was wonderful!
You captured and described everything so wonderfully! Beautiful work.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed. 😊
Very unique and so creative! I love when someone presents me with a different perception of reality. 🤍🖤
Oh good 😍
Beautiful Julie! You have an eye for heArt! 🙏❤️
Bless you :)
What a good idea to render them in black & white. Yep, Africa.
Maybe I saw that first cause last week was the live aid anniversary and I’d been seeing that imagery a lot.
I saw Africa before I saw your comment.
These are beautiful, Julie. Stunning pictures and equally stunning interpretations. I love this idea of viewing the world in monochrome and observing the structure.
Monochrome! That was the word I was looking for so often in that piece!!!!!😘❤️
The first one looks like Nature’s nod to the origami cranes, more than a 1000 are needed these days. I enjoyed each photograph, saw Africa before I read your thoughts.
Absolutely stunning share. 🖤🤍📸
Thank you.
Yes I see the origami cranes.
Looking this morning, I also get a hint of Escher’s ‘Sky and Water’ too.
No wonder this is my favorite image, now I see the Escher Sky & Water
These are gems ❤️
Awww thank you. :)