

Nicholas Hilliard (English, 1547- 1619). An Unknown Woman, aged 26, 1593. Watercolour on vellum stuck onto a playing card; 5.8 x 4.8 cm. London: Victoria and Albert Museum

Detail: Anthony van Dyck (Dutch, 1599-1641). Henri II de Lorraine, 1634. Oil on canvas; 204.6 x 123.8 cm. Washington DC: National Gallery of Art, 1947.14.1. Gift of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney. Source: National Gallery of Art

John Witherspoon, an 18th-century Presbyterian minister, wearing preaching bands


The “Dissent Collar” worn by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, now in the Smithsonian
Today’s poem, “Collars,” was sparked by thinking about the botanical structures that support and decorate certain flowers. To me, these petal/leaf ruffs suggested collars, and that got me to wonder how collars have evolved.
About today’s word: Though I had guessed it was of German or Dutch derivation, I now understand that “bract” came into English in the 18th century from the Latin word bractea, which means “plate of metal.” I am still a little uncertain about which flowers sports petals rather than bracts, as well as how that determination is made. It seems that it depends upon location–bracts below and supporting petals/flowers–and often–but not always–in terms of texture and color, with bracts being more leaflike and a bit sturdier. Both petals and bracts can use color to attract pollinators, though. Today, I am content to recognize that bracts and petals are different but perhaps complementary structures, and to know that whatever they are called I find them both beautiful.

(Above, a gorgeous image of bracts by my sister, Karla)


(Two images of bracts–waterlilies in Bog Lake, Minnesota–2022)
