Take Note
I grace your bed,
an ornamental
all rosettes, ruffles
and lavender.
Its true,
some find me bitter -
I say taste and see
and offer a tip:
it's all in the way
I'm handled.
by Margaret Bednar, October 23, 2013
This is linked with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Wednesday Challenge - The Language of Flowers - "turn to flowers for inspiration, not simply as beautiful objects, but as symbols of deeper emotions and human qualities, or as magical ingredients".
I was intrigued recently to find the hardworking Kale sold next to fancy roses and other such flowers. I did plant this in my garden along the border a few years back - as I thought them beautiful, but found them bitter to eat. Since then, I have learned how to cook with it.
Not all beautiful thins are sweet!!! but we should always look for the positivity and I know you have found right rightly !! by getting to know how to cook it.
ReplyDelete"it's all in the way I am handled" be it flower or human proper handling does make a difference..:)
ReplyDeleteSusie and I are sharing the same thoughts about humans and plants. A woman specifically came to mind. I guess because of the ruffles made me think of a really pretty dress. I enjoyed this a lot.
ReplyDeleteGreat imagery.
I thought that if I did have the time to post comments, early on... I would have chose the dandylion, common and edible... or better yet Queen Anne's Lace which is the wild carrot... maybe it all depends on how we are cared for when we are raised.
ReplyDeleterather like people or animals, i suppose. :)
ReplyDeleteThe bitter must come with the sweet, and so is life. Beautiful images and expressive words make this post a treat.
ReplyDeleteTaste and see, it's all in the way I'm handled- words for the wise!
ReplyDeleteI love the way they look almost like roses--I grow them sometimes, and they are amazingly durable and tough as well as beautiful--though I've never tried to eat them. This is a novel and well-presented metaphor, very well executed, Margaret.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful view and I love your ending. My neighbor grows it and I love how it resembles roses~ :D
ReplyDeletesensual, and pleasingly challenging, Margaret ~
ReplyDeletethat's a kale variation? i always thought of them as ornamental (not edible, ahem) cabbage. you eat those?!
ReplyDeletei do love me some kale. i mean a deep and abiding love for kale. which i know is a thing now, kale-loving. but as it should be, because Kale Is Awesome.
and about your poem (!), your last lines really say it all, about everything, right? it's all in the way we are handled. love it.
Oh this is so clever!!!! I love it.
ReplyDeleteLike Marian, I thought those were ornamental cabbage rather than kale, but they're certainly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd it seems Marian and I aren't the only ones...I just looked it up. They're both the same thing, apparently.
http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofile1/p/Orn_Cabbage.htm
Thanks for your comment on my post, Margaret. It's always nice to feel appreciated!
K
I thought they were cabbage as well and looking images I still think Kale is a bit more "crinkly" ... but the sign said Kale NOT Cabbage (Whole Foods could be wrong) but I went with what they labeled it. I also planted these in my garden a few years ago, as stated, but can't remember if the seed packets said Kale or Cabbage...
ReplyDeleteMargaret, Another gem !! Love the poem. Plant or person, how it is handled does make all the difference. So deep, yet so simple. You are so creative and talented--always a pleasure to see what magical words you have written and what lovely photos you have taken. Mickie :)
ReplyDeleteSO beautiful and your poem has me interested in finding new ways to cook with it! :)
ReplyDeleteLove that you used kale as a flower here. Excellent response to the prompt. I like the photo as well.
ReplyDeleteLoving this line as it applies to flowers & people: it's all in the way I'm handled.
ReplyDeleteStunning pictures as always Margaret ~
knowing what to do with them def makes all the difference in the world. i do enjoy kale...got that from my wife...
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty clear that we are not just in the flower bed. Very good advice for both. Fun.
ReplyDeleteIs that a bouquet of kale? I had no idea it could be so pretty.
ReplyDeleteNot until today did I realize the connections between me and kale. :-)
ReplyDeleteTerrific piece, Margaret!
Not until today did I realize the connections between me and kale. :-)
ReplyDeleteTerrific piece, Margaret!
Truly there's an art to handling Beauty, even chicken soup had magical elements when gma stirred it, & you should be Adored! XO Debbie
ReplyDelete