new to me. new to you?

i visited my local chemical-free, pesticide-free flower market this morning to catch up with my friend christine. she introduced me to a seedpod i had never seen before. hyacinth bean (sometimes called ruby moon, or ruby red hyacinth bean). have you heard of them?  hyacinth beans are a pink and purple marvel of a vine, with plum colored stems, magenta ornamental pea pods, and blooms that range from white with lavender to deep pink. it sounds enchanting. this market is seasonal, so christine had only the dried seed pods, which are magenta when fresh, but dry black. i was besotted. how exquisite would these black winged stems look in a botanical arrangement, or on a wreath? just the right amount of moody weirdness to add eye-catching depth and contrast. i’m looking forward to playing with them in my holiday decor.

hyacinth bean seedpods  (Lablab purpureus)