Hi, Michela: As a kindred spirit, loving all beings, including weeds, which are a part of the bigger picture. I have written about them as well, and appreciate your expression of love and wisdom. It is interesting that plants are labeled "nuisance", including "illegal", when, really, who are the ones destroying them? It seems more appropriate to label those who devour for personal gain to be "labeled" with such monikers! Cheers to you! Keep up the great work, and thank you for your compassion and empathy!
Thanks Robin. Yes, we’re very selective in our view of the world, so quick to judge. I do still grumble when the roe deer eat my plants, but tell myself that I am the interloper here.
That’s a compassionate, empathetic mindset, Michela! You have a kindred spirit in me! Imagine our world where that was the “rule of the land”- blissful and beautiful!
Mich, It seems you have God's eyes, or at least see things a little closer to what he sees than the rest of us. It's evident you can seek out and reveal hidden treasures the rest of us just walk past. once or twice, maybe three times, he let me see people or the world around me through his eyes and i was dumb with wonder. Weedy patches were transformed into breathtaking gardens created by a master gardener. Things you see each day were suddenly revealed. But only for a moment or two. Each day I ask him to let me see people and the world around me through his eyes. Washed in love and wonder and revelation. So, you got it going on Girl friend,
Wonderful. The slug endured the spikes to graze on the lovely flower. My brother, the fabulous liar told me Indians chewed on the purple tuff as a chewing gum. So, I tried some. It was ok, but I preferred Double Bubble. Still, I’ve been called a slug more than once so maybe there is something there? But I am NOT CRAWLING OVER A SCOTISH THISTLE!!!
😂 Thanks for bringing a smile to my morning! I don’t know enough about slug anatomy to know if the hole I could see is there by design or not, but it just seemed small enough to weave its way between the spines. Maybe there’s a lesson there 🤔
A couple of my friends studied thistles for their gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award. It wasn’t until then that I realised how many different types there are! Living in the Scottish Highlands I always feel obliged to leave a couple in my garden!
Interesting to hear that your friends studied them. At the moment they aren’t in my garden, but I have been wondering how I now will react to their arrival.
Lovely observations. When we were young I use to love going on ‘nature rambles’ in the fields behind our school. This summer I find myself walking a familiar route around our local (small) nature reserve. I have been ‘brushing up’ on my plant identification having forgotten all those beautiful names. As you describe in your piece, looking closely reveals such beautiful structures. I had been watching an elegant bud forming on a particular plant, waiting to see what would unfurl. In the great reveal, it turns out to be a thistle. They are such interesting plants. I look forward to seeing what they inspire for you as the season slowly changes. I have also been completely absorbed by all the Queen Anne Lace that have taken over the meadows and pop up through the grasses.
Thank you for sharing your images and observations.
Hi Chris, and thank you. It’s fascinating to learn that a thistle has caught your attention too. There’s such a contrast between their stillness and the movement of grasses and plants such as Queen Anne’s Lace. We have wild angelica and the florets seem to be a magnet for flies and beetles. I’ve spent quite a lot of time trying to identify things the hard way, then using an app, only to learn in the last fortnight that if I swipe up on a photo on my iPhone, it will if the outline is clear give me a name!
Thank you, once again, for sharing the beauty of your home landscapes - both the outside world and your inner wilderness. What a lovely piece to enjoy at the end of my day.
‘My inner wilderness…’ I love that thought Jamie, thank you! I rarely put ‘myself’ and ‘wild’ together but it’s definitely something to reflect on. I’m really glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful piece of writing, photos and painting, thank you. What a perfect timing to observe this slug in an "unlikely" place, a reminder that Nature often takes a different route from what our human mind perceives as right or wrong, easy or hard. I enjoy the "weeds" in my rewilded garden, though trying to change people's minds on what a "weed" is sadly seems to be an uphill battle.
Thanks Ramona. I love your phrase ‘…Nature takes a different route…’ I too have semi-wild areas in the garden, and in some respects wish that I had not inherited ornamental beds, as my ideal garden would be meadow and woodland and pond! I had an interesting conversation with Joe and Tim about our relationship with Nature.
Hi, Michela: As a kindred spirit, loving all beings, including weeds, which are a part of the bigger picture. I have written about them as well, and appreciate your expression of love and wisdom. It is interesting that plants are labeled "nuisance", including "illegal", when, really, who are the ones destroying them? It seems more appropriate to label those who devour for personal gain to be "labeled" with such monikers! Cheers to you! Keep up the great work, and thank you for your compassion and empathy!
Thanks Robin. Yes, we’re very selective in our view of the world, so quick to judge. I do still grumble when the roe deer eat my plants, but tell myself that I am the interloper here.
That’s a compassionate, empathetic mindset, Michela! You have a kindred spirit in me! Imagine our world where that was the “rule of the land”- blissful and beautiful!
Mich, It seems you have God's eyes, or at least see things a little closer to what he sees than the rest of us. It's evident you can seek out and reveal hidden treasures the rest of us just walk past. once or twice, maybe three times, he let me see people or the world around me through his eyes and i was dumb with wonder. Weedy patches were transformed into breathtaking gardens created by a master gardener. Things you see each day were suddenly revealed. But only for a moment or two. Each day I ask him to let me see people and the world around me through his eyes. Washed in love and wonder and revelation. So, you got it going on Girl friend,
Your Frankie
Thank you Frankie. I have an excess of curiosity but enjoy finding beauty in the things that can so easily be overlooked.
Wonderful. The slug endured the spikes to graze on the lovely flower. My brother, the fabulous liar told me Indians chewed on the purple tuff as a chewing gum. So, I tried some. It was ok, but I preferred Double Bubble. Still, I’ve been called a slug more than once so maybe there is something there? But I am NOT CRAWLING OVER A SCOTISH THISTLE!!!
😂 Thanks for bringing a smile to my morning! I don’t know enough about slug anatomy to know if the hole I could see is there by design or not, but it just seemed small enough to weave its way between the spines. Maybe there’s a lesson there 🤔
I love these images Michela. You've elevated the humble thistle from weed to portrait subject. The shallow depth of field works so well. Lovely!
Thanks very much Jon. I’m keeping my eye on them for further interest.
I love thistles!! I know I'm not supposed to, but I just think they're beautiful.
Thanks Sam. This year has definitely been my moment of revelation!
A couple of my friends studied thistles for their gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award. It wasn’t until then that I realised how many different types there are! Living in the Scottish Highlands I always feel obliged to leave a couple in my garden!
Interesting to hear that your friends studied them. At the moment they aren’t in my garden, but I have been wondering how I now will react to their arrival.
The joys of macro and thistles so beautiful.
Thanks Christine. Sometimes when using this lens I think back to a childhood kaleidoscope - each turn reveals something new.
Love these images!!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Fiona, I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Beautiful watercolor Michela. I saved a screenshot in my file of inspirational art.
Rod
Thank you Rod. A small figment of my imagination, but I’m glad you like it. Your watercolours look rather lovely.
Really enjoyed listening .. the ambience in the background in sharp contrast to the busy and hot Aire we are parked in here in southern Italy ..
Thanks Nigel, that’s good to hear. I’m sure southern Italy has it compensations! Enjoy your time there.
The ambience of field recording is a lovely choice to have made.
Thank you Martin, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Lovely observations. When we were young I use to love going on ‘nature rambles’ in the fields behind our school. This summer I find myself walking a familiar route around our local (small) nature reserve. I have been ‘brushing up’ on my plant identification having forgotten all those beautiful names. As you describe in your piece, looking closely reveals such beautiful structures. I had been watching an elegant bud forming on a particular plant, waiting to see what would unfurl. In the great reveal, it turns out to be a thistle. They are such interesting plants. I look forward to seeing what they inspire for you as the season slowly changes. I have also been completely absorbed by all the Queen Anne Lace that have taken over the meadows and pop up through the grasses.
Thank you for sharing your images and observations.
Hi Chris, and thank you. It’s fascinating to learn that a thistle has caught your attention too. There’s such a contrast between their stillness and the movement of grasses and plants such as Queen Anne’s Lace. We have wild angelica and the florets seem to be a magnet for flies and beetles. I’ve spent quite a lot of time trying to identify things the hard way, then using an app, only to learn in the last fortnight that if I swipe up on a photo on my iPhone, it will if the outline is clear give me a name!
Thank you, once again, for sharing the beauty of your home landscapes - both the outside world and your inner wilderness. What a lovely piece to enjoy at the end of my day.
‘My inner wilderness…’ I love that thought Jamie, thank you! I rarely put ‘myself’ and ‘wild’ together but it’s definitely something to reflect on. I’m really glad you enjoyed it.
:) Inner Wilderness Unlimited is the name of my Substack, so it's always top of mind for me. ;)
That said, I definitely see "wild" in your writing and your images. You are tapping into the natural world in a very visceral way, and I love that.
There is something that calls, and binds me… 🙏
Beautiful piece of writing, photos and painting, thank you. What a perfect timing to observe this slug in an "unlikely" place, a reminder that Nature often takes a different route from what our human mind perceives as right or wrong, easy or hard. I enjoy the "weeds" in my rewilded garden, though trying to change people's minds on what a "weed" is sadly seems to be an uphill battle.
Thanks Ramona. I love your phrase ‘…Nature takes a different route…’ I too have semi-wild areas in the garden, and in some respects wish that I had not inherited ornamental beds, as my ideal garden would be meadow and woodland and pond! I had an interesting conversation with Joe and Tim about our relationship with Nature.