That God takes something so beautiful and delicate as this okra flower and turns it into something we can eat just blows my mind! That I can plant tiny seeds the size of a BB and later feed my family for months from it is stunning.
This one simple thing has transformed the way I look at wasps. I used to hate them, darn near had a panic attack every time I saw one.
But now I know the beauty that lives within those little pollinators. Now I love them. Bring on the wasps!
They - along with all their little friends the bees, dragonflies and butterflies - help make this flower into something fabulous and tasty. Thank you, you wonderful plants and you little pollinators, and thank you, God. What a truly wonderful world.
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| Okra flowers are so beautiful. It amazes me they go from this... |
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| ... to this. Dee-lish! |
Posts
I haven't tried okra yet, but that does look delicious! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh Jill, you have to try it! I love it fried, pickled or stewed. I just mailed some a to a friend in Colorado who eats it raw! Or you can put it in a gumbo or just slice it saute it. It is one of the most versatile veggies.
DeleteYUMMY!!! Fired okra. My fav thing to eat in the summer time And not one of the prettiest or easiest thing to harvest, cut up and prepare. Its one of those challenge veggies for sure.But in the end, good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered why there are some pesky insects in this world, gnat for example. But God put them on this world to feed other animals so they can live on to do good in our world. Still don't like gnats, but they are here for a reason.
It really does say "summer" doesn't it? :) It is a really odd looking veggie. And yes, everything has its place in nature even if it annoys us!
DeleteSteph. Thanks for the reminder. I am not especially appreciative of wasps or bees, for the most part. I will attempt to do better at appreciating them.
ReplyDeleteJill, you really must try Okra. It is delicious. I like it just the way Steph prepared it here, but I also just sometimes cut it up, put it in the frying pan with a little oil and then sprinkle a little corn meal over it. You don't get quite the crunchiness that you get with the breaded okra, but it is just as good.
I wouldn't want one for a pet, LOL, but I can now appreciate them :)
DeleteCan I appreciate their usefulness and still fear them at the same time? :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, yes! I used to panic about them and then got my kid panicked about them. Sigh. So once I tried to stay calm I started to see their benefits :)
DeleteI don't know if I can ever get over my fear of wasps, but I am learning to tolerate them! LOL! I used to hate bees too, but I appreciate them so much more now. Great post!
ReplyDeleteYou know, once I realized my garden was dependent upon pollinators, I though, geez, I don't WANT to scare them off.
DeleteIt is amazing how such a beautiful flower can transform into food...nourishes our eyes, bodies, and soul.
ReplyDeleteI think they are the prettiest flowers, such interesting colors and delicate petals. An amazing transformation to be sure.
DeleteI do appreciate them pollinating my plants--but we kill their nests when they are on our house/deck/playground! I've never had okra either!
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely! Twice they've built a nest above our door and I knocked it down. Don't want anyone getting stung, but we do need them for the garden! Oh you should try okra! It's different but so good!
DeleteYum Okra! I do love it! But I'm terrified of wasps! Eeek! I suppose I'll have a whole new outlook on them now though! ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, I had to make myself stay calm around them because Brady kept picking up on my fear. And what I noticed during my forced calm was that they really only zipped by me. They don't ever really seem interested in me at all. I tell Brady, if you let them alone and aren't messing with them or their nest, they will just fly on by.
DeleteLove Okra, and honestly had no idea that they came from that first pictured plant. Wow. I am not a fan of wasps. But then again, there are many bugs including spiders, and bees that I find fascinating if I am able to watch them in their own world from a safe distance.
ReplyDeleteI didn't either until I grew them last year! And I thought, wow, that is the prettiest flower. Truly, insects are fascinating, spiders too. They are so driven with such clear purpose.
DeleteI totally see what you're saying and agree with the wonders of nature and what God has given us and created. I am not on board with the okra part. Okra is the devil.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Go figure, you love the wasps but not the okra, ha! You always make me laugh.
DeleteI don't think I've ever seen an okra flower...it's beautiful!!! My grandma made the best friend okra ever. It was never slimey. Haven't had any in years, miss it. :)
ReplyDelete~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Oh geez, grandmas are always the best cooks. I am perfecting my okra skills. Maybe someday if I'm a lucky a little guy or girl will say, "My grandma made the best okra" about me :) You should make you some! Can you get it fresh in CA? My friends in Colorado can't, so I mailed them some.
DeleteBeing a life long northerner I've never seen or eaten Okra. I had no idea it flowered like that!
ReplyDeleteOh geez, you should find some and try it! Just so you can say you did :)
DeleteI love this, finding the wonder in everyday moments!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terra. Those are the moments that are usually the most powerful, not the big moments it seems :)
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