Urban Jungle Bloggers / Plants, Art & Flowers
Given that I've barely been able to tell my arse from my elbow lately due to work and various commitments, you'll notice it's been a little quiet here. I know, I know, I'm sorry-but all will become clear. Promise. With this in mind, today's post is combining the last two months of Urban Jungle Bloggers topics, 'Plants & Art' with 'Plants & Flowers'...
Recently I accidentally gave my phone a bath having whipped it and flipped it out of my back pocket to check the time whilst the kids were soaking off the dirt of the day. Seconds later, I'd fished it out and was burying it in a tub of (brown) rice in the hopes of drawing out the moisture, as Google suggests. As I stood watching it (you know, in case it exploded or whatever) I could see that full camera roll recording our entire summer disappearing forever...and kicked myself for A: having not backed it up and B: printed at least some of them for framing. And I realised that I don't do that with any of my photographs. Terrible isn't it? In fact, the impact of that only really hit me when Reuben said "wow mummy, I've never seen a photo like that!" when I'd dug out an old family album to show him recently. So for September's portion of the challenge ('Plants & Art') I've taken a selection of my plants printed from my Instagram account to play with.
The subject of these images - the 'flower' part of October's challenge...well, I'm not even sure where to begin. These stunning, almost translucent bell-like clutters were foraged from a Pieris Japonica tree not far from here (thank you Instagram family for dispelling the mystery for me!) Their delicate scent is a sweet and subtle mix of honey and mead, the tree vibrating with the hum of an army of bumble bees, even now in the coldest half of October. Can you imagine what the honey must taste like?! It is completely magical. I stood under this tree in light rain one morning, the river just over the wall from me and listened to the sound of the steadily moving water and the singing hum of the bees whilst I took a few clippings.
The fruit the tree bears can only be compared to lychees and although toxic they still look tempting. Starting out an almost translucent white like their flower, they turn from an acid yellow before warming into peach and ruby red. Aren't they fascinating?
And I love the continuity of these images, as the small jug they sit in was made by hand in the same place. A home from home.
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