Flower of the Okra by PhrankPower

Photography • Flowers/Plants • posted on Aug 24, 2008

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Description

Another shot from Leah's vegetable garden. This is the tiny flower of an Okra plant, a Southern vegetable staple if there was ever one. Note the ants on the left side. The water drops are from what we received this morning here in Memphis from Tropical Storm Fay! Interesting thing is the flower opens in the early morning, but by the next day it's on the ground. However, in its place only a day or two later are the extremely tiny beginnings of the okra. A quick and amazing transition. And if you've never picked some young tender okra and cooked them the same day, well, you're missing one of the sweeter delicacies of life! And when picking, timing is everything. Almost as important as when frying up a mess of chicken! Pick it too soon and they're tiny and soft. But that's actually preferable to picking okra too late. I've heard those are called Bull Horns. Too tough to cook. Perhaps they'd be more appropriate as a weapon. But those have their important role to play as well. You just leave them on the plant, and their seeds become next year's crop. And no matter how hard you try, you'll often go out to pick some okra and discover the ones you've been watching have already become "horns". But that's OK. Next spring you'll be glad your timing was off! Thanks for stopping by! marshall

Comments (10)

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MrsRatbag

8:48PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

I had no idea it was that complicated! It's a beautiful flower and you've captured it well!

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auntietk

9:07PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Ummmmm ... the only thing I know about okra is that it comes in a can and it's slimy. Nobody grows it up here. It certainly has a gorgeous flower! You make me think the stuff might actually be edible. Beautiful shot!

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beachzz

9:55PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

The only thing I know about okra is that according to all the crossword puzzles I do, it's used in gumbo. I had no idea it gave such a beautiful flower-thanks for sharing!!

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50parsecs

10:59PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Beautiful flower! While I'm not so crazy about okra by itself, gumbo would just not be the same without it.

MrsLubner

11:56PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

I might plant okra as a garden flower but its one of those veggies you either love or hate. I hate but coming from the south I can only say that when it is in everything you eat from morning grits to dinner gumbo, you sort of lose enthusiasm for it. Still, you have shown how lovely this plant can be. Excellent macro.

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