Raggedy Blue Flower<br /><br />Chicory plants look sort of weedy when viewed from a distance, but the flowers are actually rather pretty.<br /><br />Young chicory leaves can be eaten like lettuce, and the roots can be roasted and ground to make a coffee substitute.<br /><br />I made chicory coffee when I was a kid. It was OK, but a lot of work for a little bit of coffee.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, chicory pollen is blue.<br /><br />The color on this particular image isn't very vivid, but I kind of like the back-lit effect.