Sea Holly Splendor is a photograph by Rory Siegel which was uploaded on July 15th, 2013.
Sea Holly Splendor
This was taken yesterday at the awesome Yelm Farmer's Market! ... more
by Rory Siegel
Title
Sea Holly Splendor
Artist
Rory Siegel
Medium
Photograph
Description
This was taken yesterday at the awesome Yelm Farmer's Market!
The Sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) is a species of Eryngium in the plant family Apiaceae and native to most European coastlines. It resembles a plume thistle in that its flower is burr-shaped, but the flowers are metallic blue rather than mauve. Protected from winds this dune plant grows to a height of 20 to 60 cm. Although widespread, it is considered endangered in many areas, such as Germany where its occurrence has been greatly reduced throughout and has become locally extinct in several districts.
In Elizabethan times in England, these plants were believed to be a strong aphrodisiac.
Sea Holly does best in poor soil with little water and baked conditions. Yet it has striking flowers, an interesting prickly texture, excellent drought- and deer-resistance, and even salt-tolerance. Plants form taproots, so they are difficult to transplant once established, but starting new ones from seed is easy.
Sea Holly
Begotten by the meeting of rock with rock,
The mating of rock and rock, rocks gnashing together;
Created so, and yet forgetful, walks
The seaward path, puts up her left hand, shades
Blue eyes, the eyes of rock, to see better
In slanting light the ancient sheep (which kneels
Biting the grass) the while her other hand,
Hooking the wicker handle, turns the basket
Of eggs. The sea is high to-day. The eggs
Are cheaper. The sea is blown from the southwest,
Confused, taking up sand and mud in waves,
The waves break, sluggish, in brown foam, the wind
Disperses (on the sheep and hawthorn) spray,�
And on her cheeks, the cheeks engendered of rock,
And eyes, the colour of rock. The left hand
Falls from the eyes, and undecided slides
Over the left breast on which muslin lightly
Rests, touching the nipple, and then down
The hollow side, virgin as rock, and bitterly
Caresses the blue hip.
It was for this,
This obtuse taking of the seaward path,
This stupid hearing of larks, this hooking
Of wicker, this absent observation of sheep
Kneeling in harsh sea-grass, the cool hand shading
The spray-stung eyes�it was for this the rock
Smote itself. The sea is higher to-day,
And eggs are cheaper. The eyes of rock take in
The seaward path that winds toward the sea,
The thistle-prodder, old woman under a bonnet,
Forking the thistles, her back against the sea,
Pausing, with hard hands on the handle, peering
With rock eyes from her bonnet.
It was for this,
This rock-lipped facing of brown waves, half sand
And half water, this tentative hand that slides
Over the breast of rock, and into the hollow
Soft side of muslin rock, and then fiercely
Almost as rock against the hip of rock�
It was for this in midnight the rocks met,
And dithered together, cracking and smoking.
It was for this
Barren beauty, barrenness of rock that aches
On the seaward path, seeing the fruitful sea,
Hearing the lark of rock that sings, smelling
The rock-flower of hawthorn, sweetness of rock�
It was for this, stone pain in the stony heart,
The rock loved and laboured; and all is lost.
Conrad Potter Aiken
Uploaded
July 15th, 2013
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Comments (9)
Rory Sagner
Thank you so much Nadine and Bob for not only publishing "Sea Holly" in the Artist News, but for your lovely comment as well!
Nadine and Bob Johnston
.... Like the subject, technique, composition, and color... Today it was Published in the Internet publication ARTISTS NEWS.... Anyone can Just Highlight this link ---- http://bit.ly/RVPlpf - Use Ctl-C to copy and Ctl-V ---- to put it into the Browser Address, to view the publication. You can then, Tweet, FB, and email, etc a copy of the publication, to just anyone you feel would be interested. Happy Promoting! :-)
Rory Sagner
Many thanks to Shirley for featuring "Sea Holly Splendor" in the Colorful Macro Floral Images group!
Jolanta Anna Karolska
What a prickly beauty this plant is...and I know it so well...love the full sun on it..and the lavender colour..and as you know - always enjoy the read..and a poem..wonderful piece Rory...love it! f/v
Rory Siegel replied:
Thank you Jolanta! I just fell in love with this beauty! That color....almost an ultra-violet blue, and the amazing geometry of the plant....just captivated me!