The Monday Mystery photo was of an old bullrush or cattail. You can almost see the seeds ready to take off. These photos were taken using the macro setting on my new Canon T1i camera.
We have a good size clump of them that grow in the marshy area at the very back of the garden.
Over winter it had bent over and was just about touching the snow. I discovered this one while walking around the garden on a gorgeous weekend.
Over winter it had bent over and was just about touching the snow. I discovered this one while walking around the garden on a gorgeous weekend.
The cold and age made it split open and the soft seeds are ready to disperse and travel to another area and perhaps put down some roots and grow into a new plant. I'm always amazed at how much "fluff" is packed inside those cattails. Cattails also quickly spread by rhizome roots.
I remember when our girls were young they used to love to cut them and bring them inside to put into a vase. I dreaded them splitting open and 'sneezing' everywhere so I used to spray them with hairspray to keep them from opening up.
Thanks to everyone for playing along with the Monday Mystery.
Thanks for taking time to visit today. I hope you have time to say hi and leave a comment.
What an image of you taming with hairspray! I remember eating them when they are very young and green - and the same with milkweed pods. Always an adventure to discover how much is edible - and tasty - and free - from nature. Researching this, the history and scope and uses both culinary and medicinal, broadens our horizons. I enjoy your "mysteries".
ReplyDeleteHi Linda:-) Those cattails have brought back so many memories. I remember as a young girl, going for a walk with my mom to the creek where I'd help her pick some cattails which she'd bring home for some flower arrangements. She used to spray them with something with something but I can't remember what...maybe it was hairspray as you mentioned, I'll have to ask her!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteYAY!! I got it right! :)
ReplyDelete