Martin Willitts Jr. 

Ethereal Flowers

   “One of Harvard's most famous treasures is the internationally acclaimed Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, the “Glass Flowers." This unique collection of over 4,300 models, representing more than 780 plant species, was created by glass artisans Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, a father and son team of Czech glass artists.”

These delicate glass flowers, complete with stem and veined leaf,
stop me into silence, make me consider how they were created
with piece resembling so many different plants,
some of which I’ve never seen. Each small section
is supported by tiny, almost unnoticeable wires,
all subtly holding color and light.

Every bud opens like a person waiting for a first kiss.
Apple blossoms; yellow leopard-spotted tiger lilies;
parts of a cashew tree; a cactus waving hello with one arm
offering a pink flower — every miniature stigma, anther,
and filament of the pistil was fashioned from sand,
soda ash and limestone, heated into a liquid, molten glass
blown fluid becoming flowers in a breeze from Harvard Square.  

Ware Museum

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