Blue Flax

http://www.perennials.com/plants/lin...-sapphire.html


I've had these growing wild on the hill near us & they're starting to spread a bit too. I hope so, they're just so pretty
Does anyone else have these?

Re: Blue Flax

There are fields of them near me.

Re: Blue Flax

Blue flax is indeed lovely, with a flower so blue as to rival Ipomaea (Morning Glory "Heavenly Blue").

It's manufacture/processing in past times makes interesting reading Not least the process of RETTING,

Re: Blue Flax

There is a farm near us grows it, we usually make a point of going to see it when it's in flower as it's so stunning.

Re: Blue Flax

Seeing a field of it must be breathtaking!

Robert, what does RETTING mean?

Re: Blue Flax

ex WIKI

RETTING

There are several methods of retting flax. It can be retted in a pond, stream, field or a tank. When the retting is complete the bundles of flax feel soft and slimy, and quite a few fibers are standing out from the stalks. When wrapped around a finger the inner woody part springs away from the fibers.
Pond retting is the fastest. It consists of placing the flax in a pool of water which will not evaporate. It generally takes place in a shallow pool which will warm up dramatically in the sun; the process may take from only a couple days to a couple weeks. Pond retted flax is traditionally considered lower quality, possibly because the product can become dirty, and easily over-retts, damaging the fiber. This form of retting also produces quite an odor.
Stream retting is similar to pool retting, but the flax is submerged in bundles in a stream or river. This generally takes longer than pond retting, normally by two or three weeks, but the end product is less likely to be dirty, does not smell as bad and, because the water is cooler, it is less likely to be over-retted.











IN MY youth I lectured in textiles & RETTING tickled my fancy. The thought of beautiful fine linen starting it's life submerged in a stagnant pond, stuck in my memory.




Cotton processing was another interesting field & I remember the ACROSTIC "BOCSUAT" for listing the order in which cotton was made into yarn from the raw cotton bolls


Breaking
Opening
Cleaning
Scutching
Uniforming
Attenuating
Twisting

Re: Blue Flax

Boy Robert it's sure something I have never even considered.

Re: Blue Flax

I used to see fields of it around here, but haven't seen any for a couple of years now. It certainly does look a picture.

Re: Blue Flax

Love to see anything growing wild....unless it's in my garden.

Re: Blue Flax

There are fields of it around here too being grown for the oil . It really does look beautiful with the breeze gently blowing though it making waves of blue