A week ago, I had my first one-on-one with a field of cotton. The private island I work on used to be a cotton plantation. Now to honor those roots, a field of cotton is cultivated yearly. It's such a joy to have access to all the wonders on Spring Island.
I had no idea about the wonderful architecture of the plant. I picked several cotton springs but what really caught my eyes were the pale yellow flower blooming out of a three-sided leaf-like structure that has long thin fingers. I brought my treasures home and put the flowering branches in water. After a few days, the pale yellow flowers slowly started to turn the same crimson color of what I now know is called a 'square'. I found a great website that explains the life cycle and gives the names of the various parts of the cotton plant. A 'boll' forms from the flower and it takes 24 days to reach full size. An additional 24-40 days is needed for the fiber to fill with cellulose and the boll to open.
I'm tickled that the cotton plant came into my life at this time. It has such a rich history. A special plant for a special day!
I live in Oregon now but spent the first 46 years of my life in Memphis and got to see cotton fields every time I left the city. Thanks for this beautiful look at the beautiful cotton plant -- it brings so much comfort to our lives.
ReplyDeleteHi Joy! I lived in Memphis for a couple of years in the early 90's and remembered seeing the huge bales of cotton. It was such a pleasure to touch the plants! Yes, indeed, cotton is a true wonder in our lives! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteLove your drawings of cotton. I grew up working in the cotton fields. My school even took a cotton vacation, which was not actually a vacation because we worked in the fields alongside our parents to complete the cotton harvest.
ReplyDeleteWow, Patricia! As I was standing among the plants I was trying to imagine a cotton harvest. Back breaking work, me thinks! Hope the vacation from school work was a happy time!
Deletethe website that you have found is very interesting and your work is well done, I like very much cotton plant
ReplyDeleteHi Angela. Thank you! Now that I know where the field is I'm looking forward to watching next year's harvest from start to finish :)
DeleteHey PJ, this is great! We have cotton growing at the George Washington Boyhood Home where I work and I love the plant. I've actually been spinning the fibers on a drop spindle. Not only is it hard to imaging the hard work of picking, but that's not the end of it. Each boll has hundreds of seeds that have to be picked out before it can be spun and spinning enough to use for anything takes hours and hours. What a chore that must have been! Thanks for sharing all the good info.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paula! Wow.... I had no idea about having to pick the seeds out. We should all cherish our cotton clothing! Drop spindle spinning takes quite a knack, too :) Very meditative once it starts happening for you. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful drawing and interesting information. Your post makes me want to see a field of cotton.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elva!
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