We mark the transition into late spring and the beginning of summer when the rhubarb is ready for harvesting.  Our reliable and wonderful old plant is from a cutting taken years ago from one of the family’s plants.  As the ground starts to thaw in the  spring the plant grows vigorously and quickly, spreading its large leaves all across the garden bed while its stalks take on a beautiful red hue.  Today was harvest time as I pulled the stalks from the base.  Before taking them into the kitchen I was drawn to them photographically — their lines and curves, textures and colors.  Now that I’ve captured the intensity of their color, we can look forward to fresh rhubarb crisp.