Willowherb curls
An abstract view of open willowherb pods that have lost all their seeds:
I went back to the meadow where I found the willowherb pod in an earlier post. I found masses of the curling open pods that I hadn’t noticed before. It grows in marshy areas where there are a few cattails. I hope the seeds germinate so I’ll find the flowers next year…
Nature Diary 
Good luck finding your flowers next year. I see online that the tendency now is for botanists to separate fireweed from willow herb by reclassifying fireweed from Epilobium to Chamaenerion. I mention this because your picture reminded me the slender fireweed pods I saw in Montana and Alberta two years ago.
Thanks, Steve. Willow-herb is a plant I’d like to know better, I’ll have to look up fireweed. (PS – fireweed, Chamerion angustifolium or Chamaenerion angustifolium, is found in Massachusetts. Beautful flowers, and the seed pod is very similar to willow-herb. Hope I find some.)
Nice image Tom! Very interesting!
This is a beautiful photo. I always enjoy curves, and these are especially nice.
Here’s an amusing Christmas story for you. I was driving home yesterday when a recitation of “The Night Before Christmas” came on the radio. I was enjoying it, but realized near the end I’d never paid attention to a couple of lines. When I heard this, I thought of you:
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
I guess you’ve made more of an impression with your fluff photos than I’d realized! Merry Christmas!
I’d forgotten that line – down is a lovely word for seed fluff. Hope you’re having a great Christmas…