"Flower In The Crannied Wall"

[poliphilo]

Flower in the crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies,
I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower -but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is.

Tennyson

Comments

[oakmouse]

Cranesbill, isn't it? Lovely.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't actually know, but I'm sure you're right.

[oakmouse]

Well, either that or Herb Robert; they look rather alike, or at least the strain of cranesbill native to this area looks rather like H.R., and if none of the flowers have gone to seed yet can best be told apart by the scent of the foliage. (Herb Robert isn't called Stinking Robert for nothing!)

You know me; ever the wild plant nerd. ;) Anyway the photo is quite lovely, and very evocative.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've just popped out to have a sniff- and it smells rather nice- faintly aromatic- so I guess it can't be Herb Robert. :)

[oakmouse]

Hee! Nope. Herb Robert has a musty smell, and when crushed smells like a damp basement full of mice. Probably cranesbill, then.