Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Purple Field

Zane Grey's western novel, Riders of the Purple Sage, came to mind as I was travelling on the New Portland Road yesterday afternoon. I think he would have smiled, and probably even lectured me on what is and isn't sage brush.  Now, Elenka knows quite a bit about plants, and she said this beautiful purple growth is some sort of invasive plant (purple loosestrife). All I know is that on a cloudy, overcast day this field seemed full of life.

Chapter 1
"A sharp clip-clop of iron-shod hoofs deadened and died away, and clouds of yellow dust drifted from under the cottonwoods out over the sage." ZG

 http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/index.html
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16 comments:

  1. KateAugust 14, 2013 at 7:46 AM

    Listen to Elenka; she's probably right... Isn't it fun to recall certain passages from entertaining stories?

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  2. Tanya BreeseAugust 14, 2013 at 9:03 AM

    i don't know hardly anything about plants but i do know it's pretty!

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  3. Sharon CreechAugust 14, 2013 at 10:24 AM

    Love the season of purples . . .

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  4. magiceyeAugust 14, 2013 at 12:52 PM

    aah Zane Grey.....!!

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  5. LynetteAugust 14, 2013 at 1:16 PM

    Between the two of you, I've learn new things. Thanks. I wasn't aware that Steely Dan was in PDX. Shoot. Bet it was great.

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  6. MalyssAugust 14, 2013 at 1:56 PM

    A vibrant purple color!

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  7. EG CameraGirlAugust 14, 2013 at 2:06 PM

    Yep, looks like the naughty purple loosestrife to me.

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  8. JanetAugust 14, 2013 at 2:07 PM

    I agree with you.

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  9. LowellAugust 14, 2013 at 2:17 PM

    I cannot imagine ZG riding about Maine! But, stranger things have happened. There is a great contrast here between the lavender beauty of the "invasive" plants which represent Mother Nature at her best and the electric power lines that cross the field, which, while they may be necessary, represent the kind of technology which ultimately puts nature at risk.

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  10. VPAugust 14, 2013 at 2:25 PM

    The Riders was 'La valle delle sorprese' in Italian, but I was always fascinated by the original title and I had imagined just something like this...

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  11. RedPatAugust 14, 2013 at 3:32 PM

    It's a nasty beauty, that plant!

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  12. cieldequimperAugust 14, 2013 at 6:38 PM

    That's a book I loved. This is a sight I love.

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  13. RandyAugust 14, 2013 at 10:13 PM

    Beautiful shot.

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  14. Lori SkoogAugust 14, 2013 at 10:40 PM

    We have the same plant here.

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  15. HalcyonAugust 15, 2013 at 9:02 AM

    This wildflower lines the roads of Canada too. I like it, it has a nice color. :)

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  16. JackAugust 15, 2013 at 11:16 PM

    Yeah, purple loosestrife is a noxious invasive weed that crowds out everything in its way.

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