The Joy of Flowers

In this time of mainly staying home,  I take pleasure in flowers. I have about a dozen orchids, some over ten years old. I am no expert on their care - I have previously written that they flourish under my benign neglect, but flourish they have throughout the pandemic. I currently have seven blooming. I can get lost in their beauty, drawn in to their centres, fascinated by the complexity.

Each orchid has its unique charm and many bring back memories of where I got them or who gave them to me. A few came my way when my then 95 year old cousin died. Each time they re-flower it feels like a gift from her. All three of those orchids sent up new shoots and bloomed over the past few months; it was as if they knew I needed their beauty. Part of the joy is the surprise of shoots appearing, sometimes after a couple of years of being dormant and once the flowers open, they stay for a few months.

Outside I can't help but stop to admire various gardens. Lilies in many vibrant colours make their presence known.  These lovely orange blossoms will stick around, but like most perennials they have their season.

On my walk I was treated to this patch of pink - varying shades competing for attention. It has been a hot start to summer. After my walk I was happy to retreat inside with air conditioning surrounded by my orchids.

Back to Orchids

Photo: June 27, 2016

Three days of heat and concerts have left me a little tired. Time to enjoy the latest orchid that has unfurled its flowers. Regeneration. Rejuvenation.

A Newly Blooming Orchid

I know I've written about, photographed, featured my orchids frequently on this blog. But the pressure of coming up with a photo a day sends me back to some of my favourite themes. I know the pressure is self-imposed. Nothing will happen if a day passes and there are no photos, but as my children will attest to, I am a stubborn person and I like to meet the goals I set for myself. So here are my orchids, again.



While I am semi-retired, I still work part time - organizing web events and giving workshops for and with teachers. I know that one time workshops accomplish little in the short run, but I justify what I do by comparing it to planting seeds. You have to be patient (just as I am with my orchids). You just never know when seeds take root, when ideas germinate, when flowers bloom, when teachers may incorporate ideas that were introduced in a workshop and make them their own. I usually don't know if my efforts have had any effect, but occasionally someone will let me know and then I feel I have been given a gift - a virtual flower. These orchids remind me that patience has its rewards but that it is always worth pushing forward for those unexpected moments of incredible beauty.

Orchids

Anyone who has followed my blog for a while knows that I love orchids. There are many reasons for this. Of course their beauty comes up as number one. The complexity of the blossom pulls me in; I love these veins and the intricate centre. I feel almost meditative as I focus on each bloom.

Orchids have a connection to me to my late aunt. She always had orchids in her home. She taught me that when the orchids finished blooming, she would just put them near a window behind some furniture. Eventually they would bloom again.



It's impossible not to like a plant that keeps giving. Both these orchids are re-blooms. I have 3 others that are flowering at the moment and others at their dormant stage. The one just above has been a real surprise. It sent up two branches well over six months ago and had about 16 blooms. As they started to fade it produced more buds at the end of each stalk. As the first flowers were falling off, another five opened. Now it has done the same thing again with more flowers appearing.

While once I thought orchids were difficult to grow, now I they flourish through my benign neglect. They have at times been over-watered and under-watered; I do not keep a schedule. They flourish despite differing amounts of light as long summer days turn into short winter ones. My only problem - I have too many and no space for more. I hesitate to throw any out, yet my eyes always linger on orchid displays in stores.... just one more?

Flower Therapy

Flower Therapy, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

When the winter blues get you down, there is nothing like flower therapy. My spouse brought me this beautiful orchid. I have featured orchids before in this blog. Unfortunately I lost many to aphids (yes I tried cleaning them with a soapy solution and washing them with alcohol to no avail). So this new addition brightened my day. When the skies are grey - this flash of colour captivates me.

Orchid

Orchid, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

It's the little things in life that make me happy. Flowers in winter is one of those things. This beautiful orchid came from my spouse. He was born without the flower gene - but he knows how much it means to me to have flowers around, so he bought me this.

I used to have several orchids, but somehow I got an aphid infestation and despite my efforts with soapy water, alcohol etc. I finally had to get rid of about 6 orchids. Those that survived have not bloomed in a while, so for a while my life has been devoid of these incredible flowers. Now I can once more marvel at their intricacy on a daily basis. I never tire of their beauty.

And that visit to the market last week - here's the orchid that came home with me.

Blue Orchid

Blue Orchid, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I have never seen a blue orchid before - this one has just been added to my collection of orchids - a valentine gift. So many people feel blue on Valentine's Day. I've had my share of partnerless years, though now I am fortunate to have a wonderful man in my life. . It's time to reframe Valentine's Day to make it more about love in a more generic way. Celebrate with a friend - friends are one of the more important relationships we have. Celebrate with a child who still sees everything with open-eyed wonder.

It's the old glass half empty vs glass half full. If we focus on the many positives in our lives - the many relationships that make our life full, then Valentine's Day is just another day in the year when we have the opportunity to share love with others.

Happy Valentine's Day to all my virtual friends who have brought a special richness to my life.

July 2/10: New Orchid

July 2/10: New Orchid, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Two new orchids joined my indoor garden. My daughter knows how much I enjoy these flowers and surprised me with two new ones. Right now I have (including these) seven flowering and two more with shoots, one of which will be flowering soon. I didn't have any that looked like this one - a saucy combination of yellow and pink. These flowers seem to thrive no matter where you put them.

Meanwhile my outdoor garden is thriving with new flowers making their appearance. My lilies have started to open - velvety orange and yellow flowers. This yellow flower returns each year. I don't know its name.

The feathery astilbes have opened up. Their delicate stalks and quiet colour add some subtlety to my garden.

And the echinacea have shown their faces. Still more surprises to come as the garden changes with the season and weather.

I never get tired of photographing flowers. It gets me close to them, to examine their inner workings and be aware of the details of colour, texture and complexity.

Apr 4/10 Happy

Apr 4/10 Happy, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Sometimes life gets you down. Some people go shopping for clothes or shoes. For me it is always flowers. They bring joy and pleasure to me. This orchid just joined my collection. It seems to be sticking its tongue out at me, teasing a provoking a grin.

I have many flowering plants in the house that surprise me with their blooms. Their re-flowering is like a gift. The joy they bring is priceless.

Day 259: Unusual Orchid

Day 259: Unusual Orchid, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I have a number of orchids and they keep giving back to me. My aunt showed me a number of years ago, that when her orchids stopped blooming, she simply put them in an inconspicuous spot (in her case behind a couch near the window) and eventually it bloomed again. I always thought orchids were difficult flowers to keep, but mine have payed me back many times over.

I bought this one because of its unusual colour and pattern. It's funny how we cherish flowers that are different and unusual but cast aside people who don't fit "the mould". I was at a meeting today where we discussed a learning and evaluation situation for young students (a teaching unit encompassing evaluation as well as teaching) and I was introduced to the book, "Don't Laugh At Me" by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin. In it, children who live with their differences (glasses, braces, sitting in a wheelchair...) tell others not to laugh. How can we help children understand that we are all different in some ways and the same in others and that is what makes each of us unique.

Day 45: Orchid

Day 45: Orchid, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I marvel at the details on this flower. The pink veins are carefully painted on each petal. I often stop and stare, delighted each time by the patterns and complexity. Does this serve a purpose? Does beauty have to serve a purpose?

Each time this orchid blooms I am reminded of an abundance of love, so it seemed the right photograph to share on Valentine's Day. My children gave it to me a few years ago and each bloom speaks of them as unique people, growing out of the stem of our family. From the safety and strength of our relationship, they venture out, feeling supported. It is a joy to watch my children begin to blossom as adults.