I love milkweed, seeds and pods, and their role in providing food for monarch and other butterflies. But there’s much more to this plant. The silky floss has good insulation properties and its fibers are used to clean up oil spills. On the darker side, many natives in Africa and South America use the poison on the tips of their arrows, while milkweed is toxic to animals when taken in large amounts.
Often the floss of the milkweed flies in the wind, like a head of blonde hair. But in the case of the seeds I found in the park not long ago, each strand was adorned with a plethora of tiny, frosty diamonds.
This, that and the other thing 
[…] via A girl’s best friend […]
Lovely. And I so like the title of this post. Though I’m unconvinced of the truth in either the song or the movie title 🙂
My husband has a little diamond rant because the value is controlled by a small group of people/companies, etc. However, he feels bad that my diamond is so small. 🙂 I don’t care because unless we get it resized or made into another ring, I can’t wear it. My knuckles are larger than when we got married. But I’m fine with that and have two other rings I wear together, look great, and are comfortable. 🙂 These diamonds, though, I like!
janet
They are definitely my kind of diamonds!! I just took the two rings T bought me to the jeweller to be made bigger as my hands have got fatter (like the rest of me) in the last couple of years and I haven’t been able to wear any rings.
I may do that one day, too, but for now, I’m perfectly happy wearing the two I have. I wear them on my ring finger, so the idea is still the same. 🙂
janet
It’s food that you still have rings that fit. None of mine did 😕
The ones that fit are some I bought more recently than my wedding rings. 🙂
Here are the ones I wear now: https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/weekly-photo-challenge-new-a-new-life/
They are beautiful 🙂
Some more earth magic, Janet. Lovely.
Thanks, Tish. The beauty of nature is something I dearly love, as I know you do.
I agree with the love of milkweed as it feeds passing butterflies. I have some naturally, and others I planted in a campaign to save the Monarchs. It’s lovely here as it is there. This iced version is new to me, and I’m glad you captured it.
We have a few plants that my m-i-l would have called “volunteers” and I cherish them, but I ruthlessly dig out the large number that try to make a home in our lawn. 🙂 Fortunately, the small lake a few blocks away and “my” park have a plethora of milkweed, so that makes me very happy.
janet
Makes sense to me 🙂
Besides the ‘diamond’ reference, it also reminds me of rock candy from my youth. 🙂
Yes!! I know exactly what you mean. Did you every “grow your own?”
janet
I, too, love seeing the silken threads of the milkpod, Janet. Your sighting here, and capture, presents this special plant in a new and another beautiful way. Exquisite, thank you.
Entirely my pleasure, Jet. As always, I appreciate the visit and the time you took to comment (as I do for everyone who comments.)
Nature’s winter fireworks. Gorgeous!
They are like fireworks and that would have been a good title had I thought of it. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the shot!!
janet
Diamonds indeed! So beautiful. Some of your photos, including this one, takes me back to when I was young. I grew up with Life Magazine, Saturday Evening Post, National Geographic, etc. At that time the written content meant nothing to me. But oh those photos. I was in awe of them. Studied them endlessly. Simple subjects turned into incredible photos. You do have a gift.
Me? If I haven’t cut off too much of someone’s head, or their eyes don’t look like neon signs, or there isn’t so much sun glare or shadow that it distorts the picture, I figure I got a pretty good shot. Lol!!
Ginger, that may be the best compliment I’ve gotten here, although I’m not in the same league with those photographers. My m-i-l was a head-chopper when taking a photo and she once cut herself out of a shot when she didn’t like how she looked. 🙂
janet
Of course, I am a devotee to common milkweed and its role in the life cycle of monarchs. Thanks for the additional information, quite interesting.
I know you love the milkweed, too, Sally. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
janet
I have milkweed but I have never seen the likes of this. Very nice.
We’ve gotten what I remember as and can only describe as fuzzy lithe tiny strands lining a long and fine filament.
Randy
I guess there are many kinds of milkweed, but these are the seeds from the one most prevalent here.
janet
I’m loving all your magical frosty images Janet, this one is beautiful
Thanks very much, Pauline. 🙂
Wow, that’s really cool Janet! Had no idea they’d look like that when broken down.
Glad you enjoyed the shot, Tina.
What a stunning capture – this is beautiful, Janet.
Thanks, Dan. My kind of diamonds. 🙂