Brutal Blossoms by Chipka
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
Rover—the oft-mentioned truck-yard dog—harbors belligerent sentiments in regard to:
Ticks
Thistleweed
City employees in gray vans.
I have no pictures of city employees in gray vans; I have no pictures of ticks. For this, I assume, Rover is inordinately glad. I do, however, have photographs of thistle plants. The truck-yard—so looming a presence in the current stretch of my unfolding biography—is full of them. In spring, when things turn green, the tattered, tough, brown thistle stalks burst into new, verdant life. The thistle-heads that have found their way into Rover’s coat, are replaced by small green buds that soon burst into soft, things like alien satellites. As spring ages into summer, the green buds harden: their spikes bend at the tip, and the center of each nodule opens and reveals delicate, purplish flowers. These—as Rover is likely to point out—are brutal flowers. Beautiful only if you walk about without a coat of fur into which these annoyances may snag when they’ve turned brown, dry, and disturbingly-tick colored.
Rover is not with me as I post this image. I suspect he’s inordinately glad of that. Well…he’s as glad of that as a dog might be. He’d find my position in front of my laptop to be supremely boring, and so he wouldn’t notice the thistle on the screen. At this moment, he is quite possibly sniffing something, or plotting his next food heist, or wheedling someone out of something tasty, and (at the time of this writing) lamb flavored. Rover likes a good gyros, you know…he’s a dog of impeccable taste, and he hates ticks, thistle weed, and city employees in gray vans.
I can’t say I blame him, I don’t like ticks (and I loathe bedbugs: work in a hostel and you’ll see what I mean.) I don’t mind thistles: the seed-burrs are fun to throw at people you don’t like, and they do make intriguing photographic subjects., and in terms of city employees in gray vans, I have to say that I’m neutral of the matter. I suppose if I’m paid enough, I’ll like nasty people…well…I’ll pretend to.
And so here you have it: one of the things a rather opinionated dog dislikes. I actually like this photo a lot: thistles are such hearty and…yes…brutal plants. There’s something to like about that. And, well, in my opinion, they’re kinda pretty.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re on the verge of a great weekend. I should also point out that no dogs were annoyed during the making of this photo.
Comments (25)
ToniDunlap
That is a very beautiful Plant. Living in the movement as I do, I find it most appealing, very soothing and healing to this, my moment. Thank you Chip..............
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
Richardphotos
but the sure have beautiful flowers.outstanding shot
CaressingTheDark
Beautiful image
bmac62
These green and purple little beauties grow rather hostile with age don't they? There is a dog sleeping next to my chair in front of my computer (she got bored awhile ago)...but she said she sides with Rover with the only exception being the city workers in gray vans as she's never met one. However, she does have it in for all delivery men...particularly UPS men in brown uniforms. We both like the way your thistleweed blooms are sharp and crisp and stand out almost 3D like from the blurred background. Thumbs up:)
auntietk
Ahhh ... I got here a bit later, and the aforementioned dog has just awakened. Please pause while I hoist her up here and let her look at the photograph ... ... okay ... she took a good long look, and said she likes the photograph very much. The contrast and saturation were particularly to her liking, and she perked up her ears when we discussed the clarity of the shot. She doesn't hate THESE specifically, but she did remind me of the burrs she picked up in Nebraska when we put her down in a freshly mowed field to do her business. The burrs were wicked sharp, and she had one in each of three paws, not to mention several in her coat. She was unhappy with the removal process, and wanted to reiterate her hope that we NEVER have to go through that again.
Crabbycabby
Wonderful colours.
alanwilliams
beautifully bright and colourful image
lick.a.witch
Strange coincidence... The spring side of my posting! Love this. The colours are amazing and your narrative is a delight! Your title, though, is just about as great, original and as commlimentary to the image as it could possibly be! Fabulous. ^=^
helanker
OHH! This is so stunning and I happen to like thistles, because of their beauty and of nostalgic reasons. We played with them alot as children. A really superb capture, Chip. Wonderful rich colors.
durleybeachbum
A very gorgeous light on these burry nasties, which look so lovely and cause so much ABH.
marybelgium
magnifique !
pjaj
Great shot!
NefariousDrO
I also love the contrast and the sharp clarity, these look beautiful. When my family had dogs I too hated thistles, because of the time and hassle it took getting the things out of shaggy dog-fur. Now that it's been many years since I had a dog I'm learning to appreciate thistles for many reasons. In the fall they turn into some of the most bizarre and fascinating organic sculptures you could imagine, and did you know that the seed-pods when they've dried out make great fire-starters? Fascinating plants.
Xantipa
Excellent work ...
MrsRatbag
They ARE pretty, and your shot is excellent. I can't speak to the annoyances of the dried versions, as I've only photographed them and not had to pick them out of anyone's fur; they are pretty at all stages, I think!
Orinoor
Oh thistle, all green and purple, buzzing with bees! I've always been fond of thistles and one year our backyard went a bit wild and we had the largest thistles I've ever seen, well over my head. I wanted to leave them, but the prospect of so many progeny would have made me unwelcome in our neighborhood. Wonderful photo, you've caught them at just the right moment.
flavia49
wonderful
flora-crassella
a very beautiful thistle! GREAT photo!!!!!
RodS
Really, really nice, Chip! Even a common thistle plant becomes a work of art through your eyes and lens. Excellent!
three_grrr
I love thistles. But you are right. The dogs do NOT like them. Except Gracie Anne. Nothing like that ever bothered her. She was Teflon .. and the boys are Klingon. Everything sticks to them, LOL! I hate pulling them out from the Big Dog's long hair, and Murphy's curly hair seems to bond with thistles. But they are so beautiful. Just look at that bloom! Royal Purple, surrounded by a crown of prickly protective thorns. I don't know which is better .. your narrative, or your portrait of The Thistle.
beachzz
Well, the dog I have here at my feet wouldn't even look at this thistle, so I don't know if he likes it or not. I know he wouldn't like getting part of it anywhere on his body and since he's a long haired dog, I'm going to take a change and say that he probably doesn't like them at all. I'll let you know what I find out when he wakes up. I, however DO like thistles, mostly when they're in a foto such as this. Up close and personal, not so much. They're much too thorny for my liking and the ones at home are particularly unpleasant. The not only stick the heck outta you, they sting you as well.
makron
Outstanding capture, beautiful image
jac204
Love the term "brutal blossoms".
danapommet
Beautiful deep rich colors plus some fine detail. Dana