Photographing flowers is how I like to share moments of beauty in nature. When these photographs inspire others to create it brings deep joy to my being!
These words from my yoga-loving friend Danai Christelis speak to the joy that the wonder and beauty of flowers bring to our lives and I am grateful for her gift.
This is the message I received from her…
Your beautiful photography inspired me to write this poem..enjoy!
Those Seeds We Need to Sow.
By Danai Christelis
“Like petals of a flower What is the intent? To brighten someone’s sorrow Apologies not said? Carnivals and canopies Fading in the snow Those petals of the flower Are they just for show?
Like petals of a flower What is it all meant? Words not written by a loved one Memories of time spent? Wedding bells and baby showers Celebrations far and near Those petals of the flower Serene and oh so dear
Scattered in a milk bath Pressed inside a book Sketched onto a canvas Left wild to create that look A pocket full of fantasies Nature at its best Ladybirds and dragon flies Looking for a nest Like petals of a flower Where does it all go? When all things said are forgotten Those seeds we need to sow!”
September is worth celebrating! Not just because it’s my birthday month but my husband celebrates his a few days before mine too!
I found this poem by John Updike to be a lovely reflection of the feel of September where we are.
Wishing you all a fabulous September!
Photo 1: Mother cuts Chrysanthemums
September Poem by John Updike
The breezes taste
of apple peel.
The air is full
of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
burning brush,
new books, erasers,
chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
well-honeyed hum,
and Mother cuts
chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
with suds, the days
are polished with
a morning haze.
The rich golden yellow colour of the dandelion stands out against a backdrop of dark green foliage. It’s a common, humble flower that grows wild almost everywhere with a sunny disposition and at the same time it is eye-catching and draws attention to itself.
Dandelions although commonplace are also unique. There is no standard number of petals per head and similarly to the daisy it is a capitulum type so that each head is made up of clusters of little flowers. The dandelion ‘petals’ are in fact florets and they have serrated edges which are rather pretty and on closer inspection one can also see the forked styles rising from the florets.
The name dandelion is derived from the French name dent-de-lion or lion’s tooth due to the shape of the leaves. Flückiger and Hanbury in Pharmacographia, indicate that the name was conferred by a surgeon named Wilhelm who was so taken by the virtues of the plant that he likened it to Dens leonis (latin for lion’s tooth). It was recently reported that changing atmospheric conditions, specifically increases in carbon dioxide levels, may be affecting dandelion leaves so that they appear toothier in addition to making plants grow taller and stronger.
The dandelion has also been called Taraxacum officinale, meaning the “Official Remedy for Disorders” based on its remarkable curative properties ranging from liver diseases to kidney stones. It reportedly also contains almost as much iron as spinach in addition to calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, lecithin, Vitamin A and C. Dandelion leaves are also diuretic, since they assist in flushing excess water from the body.
Dandelions have been used in several recipes ranging from salad, soup and wine to tea. One salad recipe suggests tossing together dandelion greens, red onion, and tomatoes to be seasoned with basil, salt, and pepper.
A flowering weed that is so common is often not highly regarded but the quote below is food for thought:
“What is a weed?” Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote. “A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.”
The dandelion plant is however said to be a beneficial weed since it is good companion plant for gardening as its taproot will raise nutrients in the soil for shallower-rooting plants, and contributes minerals and nitrogen. It is attractive to bees and other pollinating insects and releases ethylene gas that assists fruit ripening.
The dandelion is firmly ensconced in folklore as well and the ‘dandelion clock’ gives the hour number based on the number of breaths it takes to blow off all the seeds of a dandelion globe that has gone to seed. Dandelions are also associated with love and it is also said that if you can blow all the seeds off with one blow, then you are loved with a passionate love but if any remain then your lover has some reservations about you. To bring good luck to a newly wedded couple, dandelions can be included in the bridal bouquet.
So in the sunny days of summer may you dream of dandelions and may each one you see be a symbol of hope and happiness.
I recently received some potted hyacinths as a gift from a thoughtful friend. The fleshy, glossy green and strap shaped leaves were growing strongly and soon stems loaded with buds appeared. I eagerly awaited the opening of the flowers and was thrilled that they bloomed for the first time on Mothering Sunday.
After a few days the spikes were so full and heavy of the pale pink flowers that their stems were bent sideways and I was concerned that I had not watered them enough. I did some reading and discovered that although the first blooms can be really spectacular in the second year flowers are not as full and heavy and stand up nicely.
Hyacinths are highly fragrant, bell-shaped flowers. The waxy flowers come in shades of white, peach, orange, salmon, yellow, pink, red, purple, lavender and blue. Although they are beautiful to look at they are also poisonous and the bulbs in particular should be kept away from pets and not ingested.
When the spikes are so heavy florists often just use some bamboo in the pot and attach the flower stem with some florist’s tape for support. Allowing a bit of droop though keeps them from looking rigid and unnatural. Some photographers run a wire down the stem into the bulb to put the flowers in a better position for taking photographs.
Since Hyacinths can be quite top heavy it is suggested that they are planted close together (but not too close) so they can support each other. Garden stores also have plant supports that work well.
Gardeners indicate that bulb performance and flower quality usually tapers off from the year after planting so some treat them as annuals and replace bulbs in autumn for flowering in March-April. The impressive flowering of fresh bulbs is due to the fertile conditions under which they are propagated and post-harvest heat treatment that encourages dense spikes of large flowers.
Greek mythology says that the god Apollo enjoyed the sport of discus throwing and one day he and Hyacinthus took turns throwing the discus. Hyacinthus ran to catch it to impress Apollo but was struck by the discus as it fell to the ground and died. Apollo then made a flower, the hyacinth, from his spilled blood. In the Victorian language of flowers, the Hyacinth flower symbolizes sport or play while the blue Hyacinth signifies sincerity.
