garden escapes: mallow
Mallow was one of the first flowers I had in my garden back in 1980 when we started our own home. Musk mallow (Malva moschata) has deeply divided leaves, papery pink or white petals and a pleasant scent. I loved it so much, I included it in my bridesmaid’s bouquet when I was married.
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Mallow often escapes the garden to live in ditches and in fields. In his Flora of New Brunswick, Hal Hinds says vervain mallow (Malva alcea) has escaped to the borders of fields in the Woodstock area of New Brunswick. So, I was on the lookout for the flower when we drove west of Woodstock to look at abandoned properties. And mallow was one of the first plants we found, growing in the ditch.
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We also found mallow growing at the edge of cultivated fields.
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mallow
Malva moschata
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wind-blown and paper
petals transparent
veined, flutter
in wind
the leaves
frayed and notched
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petals, perfumed in musk
pale pink and white
roadside edged
in field-flowers, bedstraw
day-lilies, yarrow and vetch
and musk mallow, garden escape
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to the edge of the field
to the edge of the road
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Stay home,
wear your mask.
You don’t have to escape.
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This work was made possible by a Creations Grant from artsnb!
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All my best
Jane
nichepoetryandprose 
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