The other evening while walking the beaches in Kennebunk we came across this fine specimen of Burdock in flower growing at the head of Oaks Neck, the point of rock between Middle and Gooch’s Beach. The Narragansett (four and half story 1930s beach hotel now converted to condos) across the way provided open shade in the low evening sun, and Close Up mode (macro) on the Coolpix caught all the vivid color and detail of the flower. As a boy we thought of these as particularly vicious weeds, but, in trendy Kennebunk today I would be surprised if some health food aficionado does not harvest this plant before it has a chance to make burrs :).

The Burdock flower is certainly striking…if not quite beautiful. It is kind of the Americanized version (cliché warning!) of the Scottish Thistle. In lots of ways it could be our national flower too. I certainly would not object. 🙂

Nikon Coolpix P500 in Close Up Scene mode, 32mm equivalent field of view, f3.7 @ 1/60th @ ISO 160.

Processed for Clarity and Sharpness in Lightroom.