Friday Flowers: A Plethora of Pretties

Fuchsias: Angel Earrings

Some, too fragile for winter winds

The thoughtful grave encloses —

Tenderly tucking them in from frost

Before their feet are cold.

Never the treasures in her nest

The cautious grave exposes,

Building where schoolboy dare not look,

And sportsman is not bold.

This covert have all the children

Early aged, and often cold,

Sparrow, unnoticed by the Father —

Lambs for whom time had not a fold.

--- Emily Dickinson

Winter-Blooming Bergenia

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you. We have returned to featuring poems as a part of Friday Flowers. It used to be a favorite of my readers back in the good old days, but I got lazy. So, here we are with poetry and floral pretties.

Friday Flowers: Pink Jade

Fuchsia: Pink Jade


I've been thinking about putting up a "Weekly" Wrap post, but it's probably best to let that tradition fall away. I originally started those posts to create an index, recording the general topics that were discussed over the course of the week. However, that was back when I was averaging nearly two posts per day.

Now, I'm lucky to reach one post per two days. Moreover, my current blogging style leans towards quickie posts. I rarely do the long essay format anymore. Not only do I not have the time, but those types of posts were rarely crowd favorites.

Oh well, at least we still have Friday Flowers. ;-)

Fuchsia: Pink Jade at the South Coast Botanic Garden

And some music. . .

Friday Flowers: Fuchsias For Proserpina

Fuchsia: Mendonoma Belle


A Glimpse of Proserpina
(By John Hollander)

Clear, early mornings as I stride
Westward, the usual brick street
Grows meadow grass from its concrete:
The neighborhood turns countryside.

Huge structures hovering across
The river like excluding shades
Collapse into the Palisades;
The river burns away its dross.

If I went up a nearby hill
You would be there in sight, bent down
To gather flowers at the crown
Of my hill's twin against the sky;

We'd meet where, as in fields of wars
Forgotten, stones and daisies swarm,
Then turn back, arm in flowers in arm,
And bring them quietly indoors.


Almost missed our weekly Friday Flowers post, which would have been a shame because today marks the birth date of John Hollander, born in 1929.

Fuchsia: Bonnie Doan

As is the usual case with holiday weekends, I'm expecting posting to be erratic until Tuesday. Have a great weekend!!!

Friday Flowers: Paying the Floral Debt

Orchid: Little Gem Stripe


The Debt
(Paul Laurence Dunbar)

This is the debt I pay
Just for one riotous day,
Years of regret and grief,
Sorrow without relief.

Pay it I will to the end—
Until the grave, my friend,
Gives me a true release—
Gives me the clasp of peace.

Slight was the thing I bought,
Small was the debt I thought,
Poor was the loan at best—
God! but the interest!


LOL!!! No that's not how I feel, but it's good to finally deliver on my promises of flowers from the many shows and gardens that I've visited over the summer. I keep on writing things like "Oh, and I have some more Fuchsias to share with you all" and then I forget to share 'em.

Well, here's some sharing. ;-)

Fuchsia: Pink Jade

Lovely.

Friday's Flowers Are Fuchsia Again

Angels' Earrings Dainty

Mars Being Red
(By Marvin Bell)

Being red is the color of a white sun where it lingers
on an arm. Color of time lost in sparks, of space lost
inside dance. Red of walks by the railroad in the flush
of youth, while our steps released the squeaks
of shoots reaching for the light. Scarlet of sin, crimson
of fresh blood, ruby and garnet of the jewel bed,
early sunshine, vestiges of the late sun as it turns
green and disappears. Be calm. Do not give in
to the rabid red throat of age. In a red world, imprint
the valentine and blush of romance for the dark.
It has come. You will not be this quick-to-redden
forever. You will be green again, again and again.

Just because I'm away on vacation doesn't mean that I can't give you all a Friday Flower post. ;-)

Fuchsias for Friday's Flowers

Vivien Lee

Light

(By Rabindranath Tagore)

Light, my light, the world-filling light,
the eye-kissing light,
heart-sweetening light!

Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the center of my life;
the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love;
the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.

The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light.
Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.

The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling,
and it scatters gems in profusion.

Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling,
and gladness without measure.
The heaven's river has drowned its banks
and the flood of joy is abroad.

Well, it's that time of the week again. I've been wanting to do a post on a Fuchsia show that I got to visit last weekend, but blogging opportunities have been slim. So, we'll show off a few pretties today and maybe we'll do a full on post later. ;-)



Sparkles


Here are a few more.