Honeysuckle | Woodbine    ∞    Lonicera periclymenum

Around the shores of Loch Morar on the west coast of Scotland       •      24 June 2013
Photograph by Mark O

By Mark O

Posted on 19 July 2013

The light above the flowering honeysuckle made it glow with life as it stretched higher for the life-giving sun.  I wanted to make sure I photographed the honeysuckle against the bright sky in an attempt to show it reaching for the light, and its source of life.

∞

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.
— A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

∞

We'll Meet Beside The Dusky Glen.

We'll meet beside the dusky glen,
       on yon burn-side,
Where the bushes form a cozie den,
       on yon burn-side:
Though the broomy knowes be green,
       Yet there we may be seen;
But we'll meet — we'll meet at e'en,
       down by yon burn-side.
 
I'll lead thee to the birken bower
       on yon burn-side,
Sae sweetly wove wi' woodbine flower,
       on yon burn side:
       There the busy prying eye
       Ne'er disturbs the lover's joy,
While in other's arm they lie, down
       by yon burn-side.

Lines from a song by poet Robert Tannahill (1774-1810) as chronicled on p.254 in Celebrated Songs of Scotland | John D. Ross editor | William Pagan, Jr. & Son, Publishers | New York 1887

Honeysuckle Glow was posted on Friday, July 19, 2013

 

A Native of the Isles
Want the facts about Lonicera periclymenum?  The Online Atlas of the British & Irish Flora has the answers.  When you get there, we recommend the Habitats link for some cool science.

Mark O
        You can reach Mark O by e-mail at lord.orior@gmail.com