Summer banana leaf prints show up everywhere, summer attire, cocktail napkins, backyard parties, hotel wallpaper. Did you know that they have served as a percussion instrument? In Chinese culture banana leaves are famously celebrated by poets to provide meter for composing poetry during cool summer rains. The tip tap of raindrops on banana leaves makes it nature’s metronome. Its musical quality, more than its visual impact nor shade providing function, lead the fashion for the cultivated Chinese to plant banana trees in gardens. Think about what music you can hear next time you see banana leaf prints.
Photo by Zazzle for instructional use only.
