"... it is the beauty of the seed pods that strikes me just now. The rushed blooming of flowers is over, and colour of flower has given way to form of seed pod. It is so wrong to think of the beauty of flowers only when they are at their height of blooming; bud and half developed flower, fading blossom and seed pod are as lovely, and often more interesting.
Of all seed pods, those of the carnation poppy are the most beautiful. From the moment when the petals of the flower unclose and expose the pale centre of the poppy head to the last stage in its life when the seed head lifts its cover and, like a pepper-pot, scatters its seeds on the ground beneath it, it is full of subtle changes of form. The pure geometrical shape of its cart-wheel lid, with regular spokes radiating from its centre, is evidence of the severe forms that abound in plants. If we could more often see plant forms under a strong magnifying glass we should be amazed at the regularity of their shapes. There before us would be the visible basis of much pattern*, the origin of historic design."
From Four Hedges
*And see Sandy's comment on Saturday's post.
I love Clare Leighton, a friend has been to what was once her place and said it was great. Have you seen The Farmer's Year? It's also wonderful, I got it from our local library, I don't know if they know it's more than £300 used on ebay...I hope not
Posted by: Chloe | 07 August 2012 at 05:37 PM