Whilst sitting under the magnolia aglow in the dabbled light of the setting sun I discovered that magnolia petals are edible. A quick google search confirmed this and that they are used to make a floral wine. To my palate they taste like endive with a delicate violet like floral note. They are also quite similar to tulip petals which are lovely in salad if you grow them organically.
The second discovery of the weekend was something my sister Zina first noticed. The fossil like imprints on the petals on our walkway and interlock brick driveway. Later that day this discovery lead to a fun game for my little inquisitive nephew. Yes the adorable lad with the magnifying glass in the previous post. He and I tried to match up the de-bossed brown colored imprints on the petals to the patterns on everyone's shoes. We could not come to discover the wearer of the most interesting patterns and think perhaps it was some of our guests at the party. If any of them are reading this post we would love if they could check their soles and see if they match. One looks like an amazing sea shell and the other has a tiny star of david.
With this as inspiration we set out to make a few petal press pieces of our own.
First with nuts and holey stones. And then with crochet covered stones and my very own polymer stamps made with arounna and john's help when I took a letterpress workshop. Warning there are a large number of photographs. The light was really magical on Monday evening.
The next discovery was what happens when you hold one of this imprinted petals up to the setting sun.
Pure unadulterated magic.
Taking this opportunity one little step further , inspired by my favorite land artist, Richard Schilling and the piercing of the succulent petal by one of the grasses growing in our pond, here is what ensued.
I think the garden fairies will have some wonderful new materials for their dresses this year.