Back when I used to think of Phragmites as an invasive weed, destroying our wetlands, I could not see its beauty. Now that I know that most Phragmites in Maine (and much of it elsewhere) are actually a native species, and that what is spoiling our wetlands is our own land use practices and chemical agriculture with  spread of Phragmites just an optimistic symptom of the problem, not its cause…I can begin to appreciate the reed (not weed). It certainly has its beauty, as here, with a single weathered fond caught against the forest bokeh behind.

Shot at a 560mm equivalent field of view to isolate the reed and send the trees behind well out of focus.

Canon SX20IS, f5.7 @ 1/500th @ ISO 160.

Processed for intensity and clarity in Lightroom. Cropped slightly for composition.