What could this bouquet mean?
The language of flowers, sometimes called floriography, was a Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. This language was most commonly communicated through Tussie-Mussies, an art which has a following today. “Tussie-mussie” is a quaint, endearing term from the early 1400s for small, round bouquets of herbs and flowers with symbolic meanings (Wikipedia).
Apparently Kate Middleton chose her wedding flowers based on their symbolic meanings.
I’m currently reading a lovely novel called The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, set in present-day San Francisco, where the main characters do communicate through floriography (and photography is also one of the elements).
Poppy: Oblivion ~ Red Poppy: Consolation ~ White Poppy: Sleep
Sunflower: pure and lofty thoughts
Daffodil: chivalry
Pink Rose: friendship, grace ~ White Rose: I am worthy of you
Red Rose: true love
Who would think that delicious Basil represents hatred?
Geranium: gentility
Hibiscus: rare beauty, delicate beauty
Gerbera Daisy: innocence and cheerfulness
Marigold: despair and grief
Stargazer Lily: youthfulness and beauty
I can’t remember what this flower is. Do you know? One of the problems with flower meanings (and the characters in the novel encounter this, too) is that there are many language of flowers dictionaries and the meanings are not always the same. Or the meanings can be entirely different depending on the color or subspecies. I’ve been looking online and the sources are endless and often contradictory. It’s a complicated and potentially dangerous art form.
If you’re going to communicate through flowers, you have to be cautious, I guess. Or just make sure they’re really pretty.
Here are a couple of sources in addition to the Wikipedia article cited above: Language of Flowers and Phillips 1-800 Florals.
And, if you read and like The Language of Flowers, try this one, too: Hot House Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire by Margot Berwin; it relies on plant properties, too, and is very lush and fanciful.
Filed under: Books, Phoenix | Tags: 1000 Gifts, Books, Flora, Phoenix, Resorts, Travels
Thanks for this day, for all birds safe in their nests, for whatever this is, for life.~Barbara Kingsolver
These are a few more photos from our staycation last weekend at the beautiful Hermosa Inn.
So, I’ve been working on my gratitude journal (in words and through the lens) that I mentioned in a previous post, based on One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp but things can get one down, as we all know, and it’s sometimes difficult to see the gifts. As I like to share inspirational quotes, I’ll share one (not quite so positive) by a friend of mine from the other day:
Not to rain on your parade, but I’ve done the grateful journaling thing and my life is still crappy.~Mary
Ugh, I hope that isn’t the conclusion I make…
Filed under: Blogging, Books, Phoenix | Tags: 1000 Gifts, Blogging, Books, Casio Clicks, Flora, Phoenix, Photoblogging, Photography, Religion, Snaps
I love to read but what I normally read are novels. It’s not too often I read inspirational or even spiritual books (although I’m always searching for spiritual enlightenment one way or another). They usually seem boring and contrived to me or just sappy. Recently, somewhere online, on someone else’s blog and I don’t know whose (sorry if it was yours), I came across a link to a book by Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. Ann is a blogger from Canada, lives on a farm with her husband, homeschools their 6 children, but had seemingly unconquerable fears and sadness in her life. A friend dared her to write down 1,000 things she was grateful for and this transformational experience was the subject of her blog, A Holy Experience, which grew into her book.
I’m only a third of the way through her book and have about 2 things in my gratitude journal so far but this book is soooo good that I already feel like it will be a transformational experience for me, too. First, if the way excellent writers put words together interests you, this book will draw you in. Ann writes beautifully. Check out her 4 minute trailer and see if keeping a gratitude journal might interest you, too. She is not the first to suggest it…even Oprah has done so…but Ann is the first one that makes me want to do it because of all the riches that one can discover while being aware of and grateful for the small things in life. “Life change comes when we receive life with thanks and ask for nothing to change.”
In addition to making a written list, she also uses photography to document her gifts. She says, “[Sometimes] the lens is my ink, for cameras have sensor eyes, and pixels record. I slide it into a pocket, a thin point-and-shoot, and find another way to chronicle, to force the lids open; another way to receive the moment with thanks reverential.”
“One Thousand Gifts is a celebration of grace and a recognition of the power of gratitude.” You can read the first chapter of the book here if you think you might be interested.
Filed under: Art, Books, Home, Photography | Tags: Art, Books, Home, Photography
I have a lot of PTO at work so I’ve decided to take one day a month off and make it an Art Day. Today was my first. Of course, I wasn’t able to dedicate the whole day to arty things but I did a few and got some other things accomplished, too.
This was my model for the day, an orange with character. One of my bosses recently moved to a house with 30 orange trees in the yard so a couple of weeks ago, he brought a huge box of them in (he said he has thousands). They’re very juicy and still delicious several days later. So far, Tony has made orangecello out of them (still fermenting) and I’ve squeezed them for juice and eaten them as they are, of course. But this craggy one seemed like a good photo subject.
Oranges are almost as fun to photograph as eggs were last spring.
And another arty aside, I’m currently reading An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin. “This thoroughly engaging primer on the art world is unusual on a number of levels. Although the lead characters are unlikable, the novel is hard to put down, offers an enlightening explication of how the market for art is created, and includes photos and absorbing detail on many of the artworks under discussion.”
Filed under: Arizona, Blogging, Books, Phoenix | Tags: Arizona, Blogging, Books, Flora, Parks, Phoenix, Travels
July and August? The worst months of the year in Phoenix. Heat is tolerable to us AZ old-timers but, combined with the humidity of the monsoon season, it’s miserable! This weekend might be a good time to take another little trip up to the cooler north country. Here’s a few more memories of our recent daytrip to Lynx Lake in Prescott.
I love these reeds or grasses (or whatever they’re called).
Maybe they’re bulrushes?
And here are some other unidentified flora from around the lake.
They look like acorns but those aren’t oak leaves. Maybe Montucky or someone else knows?
No clue what this is above but it’s interesting…and some camouflaged fauna:
Definitely wouldn’t mind feeling a cool lake breeze again soon.
Last night, I had the pleasure of finally meeting AfricanKelli and Kara of Sunshine Cupcakes at Kelli’s booksigning. I can’t wait to start this novel (when I’m done with my current one), which is set in Mozambique and Arizona. Kelli spent quite a bit of time doing public health work in Mozambique and knows what life in Africa entails.
