SLP 312 by allsop

SLP 312

312 days into my year long making of a daily still life. The yellow Ragwort, considered by some to be a weed it is of great ecological importance because of the hundreds of insects that feed on the plant. Ragwort is, however, toxic to horses and humans. The cinnabar moth is dependent upon it as in the UK it is its only food source. It is said that fairies love it for its magical properties and, oddly, as a form of transport.
The poet John Clare wrote a poem about the Ragwort:

The Ragwort
Ragwort, thou humble flower with tattered leaves
I love to see thee come and litter gold,
What time the summer binds her russet sheaves;
Decking rude spots in beauties manifold,
That without thee were dreary to behold,
Sunburnt and bare-- the meadow bank, the baulk
That leads a wagon-way through mellow fields,
Rich with the tints that harvest's plenty yields,
Browns of all hues; and everywhere I walk
Thy waste of shining blossoms richly shields
The sun tanned sward in splendid hues that burn
So bright and glaring that the very light
Of the rich sunshine doth to paleness turn
and seems but very shadows in thy sight.
Your photo is lovely as is the poem. In its own environment ragwort is all the things you say. However, having spent a lot of time getting rid of ragwort by physical removal and burning of the plants, I don't feel quite as lyrical about its presence here in Australia, where in five states it is a declared and highly invasive weed—see the link below:

https://weeds.org.au/profiles/ragwort-common-st/
July 21st, 2024  
Nice light o the ragwort.
July 21st, 2024  
@ankers70 Yes I know in some countries it is a real pest and costs folk a lot of money to eliminate it, in the UK the only major problem is its toxicity to horses and other livestock. I am glad I don't have your problem with it and can leave it to the insects to enjoy.
July 21st, 2024  
Nice b&w. Lots of contrast and texture.
July 22nd, 2024  
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