For my herbarium box I used a popular plant called burdock. I wrapped a few twigs in the form of a bouquet with a bunch of colourful ribbons.
Burdock is a plant that made the most impression on me as a child: I had a feeling it had its own mind, attaching itself secretly to my clothes to keep me company while I was going around. Burdock uses this smart strategy to hitchhike on passing animals aiding seed dispersal. We usually think of plants as immobile and stationary, but burdock (like many others actually) manages to travel. Besides, the burdock served as an inspiration to create velcro. In Polish we even use the same name for burdock and velcro: ‘rzep’.
The wrapping ribbons are part of my child's memories as well: they were adorning roadside shrines scattered around polish countryside landscape. People would pray for miracles next to them. It was not uncommon to see burdock growing around them but it would never form a part of a shrine’s bouque as it was considered a noxious weed and would not make it to the altar.
In my herbarium box I wanted to give burdock a place it deserves and celebrate its ingenuity.
Watch out for the miracle that will happen to you soon!
40х40х10 cm, burdock, ribbons