Botanical Inspirations: A graceful, sturdy one-legged scaffold

monumental umbellifers, like Angelica archangelica

I am captivated by monumental umbellifers. Botanical Inspirations like angelica or the even taller giant hogweed. These plants rise in one or two years like enormous, sturdy sculptures, their singular stems piercing the sky as if reaching for infinity. They ascend with a graceful architecture, their transparent umbels of delicate flowers shimmering in the sunlight and swaying gently with the slightest breeze.

Their intricate forms mirror the elegant curves in **Art Nouveau** designs, each stem and flower head a natural work of art. The lightness of it all—the delicate fragrance, the repetition of patterns, the textures of the stems and branches—that inspires me. The repetition of patterns and textures creates a rhythm akin to that in **abstract paintings**. The stems and branches form **organic lines** that would intrigue any sculptor.

Their irrepressible zest for life and strength ignite my creativity. I often think of their forms, trying to capture their essence in a weaving sculpture. There's something profoundly uplifting about their resilience and the way they triumphantly reach for the sky. They remind me of the enduring human spirit.

Historically, umbellifers have been immortalized in botanical illustrations and tapestries, their elegant structures fascinating artists for centuries. **Dill**, **chervil**, and **fennel**, from the same family, and **cow parsley** in the spring offer a smaller yet equally enchanting allure.

Some extraordinary species have red or black stems with white or creamy flowers, adding striking contrasts that echo the bold use of colour. Even so, I usually prefer the wild species—the natives that have proven themselves year after year, much like timeless masterpieces that continue to inspire across generations.

Can we see these so-called 'weeds' as nature's masterpieces? I believe so. Their unassuming elegance and untamed spirit invite us to look closer, to find beauty in the overlooked, and to celebrate the artistry inherent in nature itself.