The Miracle of Bean Trees

“It was another miracle.  The flowers were turning into bean trees.”
— Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees

Wisteria seed pod

Ever since I reread Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees for my Armchair Arizona blog post, I am reminded of her novel when I see wisteria.  In the book, Taylor’s little daughter calls wisteria “bean trees” because the seed pods do look amazingly like hanging beans.  I like how Kingsolver looks at this plant with fresh eyes and calls it “another miracle.”

The wisteria is flowering here in Seattle.

Wisteria blossoms

Wisteria

A couple of seed pods from last year still hang on amidst fresh blooms.

Last year’s wisteria seed pods, pencil sketch