Cup of Gold

This is exactly as the photo came from my camera - no sharpening, color saturation, cropping or whatever.... I'm not very good at macro or closeup shots, so my critical eye sees the blur and lack of focus and says, bleh... but still I really like this image. Mostly I am blown away by the way the inside of this milkweed pod looks like it has rubbed-on gold leaf. Like a sacred icon, or the dome of a temple, or the wonderful honey you find when you look at someone you love.

Besides all that, in my opinion, milkweed is one of the most amazing plants in so many ways. I make handmade paper from the stems. And I use the seeds (the fluff) in the paper as well, as an added texture. And the pods! They are so sexy!

if you'd like to read a poem I wrote to go with this series, please click here.

Part of the Set, Milkweed Mother. Read the dedication here