Shelter in Place, San Francisco, October 22, 2020
The decade-old artichoke roots now spawn tough leaves and unappealing fruit. We let the mature ones go to seed, waiting for this moment when the center pushes up and out to reveal a bright purple thistle with pink inner leaves like dainty shells around it. There's more to come, but this is a most satisfying beginning. Does the emerging flower remind me of the COVID cells? Everything does. It's hitting too close to home.