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Balloonflowers

August 22, 2008 by 5 Comments
Balloonflowers

Balloonflowers © 2008

This softly focused flower photo seems to capture the spirit of this flower for me. Soft and beguiling. The balloonflower, named after a balloon because the unopened flower looks like a tiny inflated balloon.

I wrote a poem, kinda clutzy, last summer about this flower.

Flower Balloon

garden plants, tightly closed bud,
blues burst forth, flower as the balloon pops open
hardy
long-lived
dependable

bursting balloons make children cry
and adults scrambling to dry flowing tears

not so in the garden

this flower makes me happy
reminding me of you
hardy
long-lived
dependable

love, too, bursts forth in all its glory.

Filed Under: Nature Explorations, Photography Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. Gandalf says
    August 22, 2008 at 9:36 am

    You capture such detail of the flower in this shot. It’s great.

    Your poem strikes a chord. Very interestng, very personal perhaps?

    Reply
  2. montucky says
    August 22, 2008 at 10:35 am

    That’s a beauty and an excellent photo too. There is a similarity to the Harebells that we have around here.

    Reply
  3. Robin says
    August 22, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen a balloonflower. They’re gorgeous, as is your capture of them.

    I like your poem, too. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Bo says
    August 22, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    Hey, gandalf. All poetry is personal to the poet, whether it is or isn’t. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Bo says
    August 22, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    montucky – we have harebells too. this balloonflower has blossoms about twice the size of the harebells, so it does make a really awesome show.

    Robin – I’ll try to get a shot of the balloon of the flower. If you’ve never seen this flower, the closed balloonflower is pretty cool to see. Like a tiny hot air balloon in a way – all puffy.

    Reply

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