flowers

E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Style of Eye - August 2007

flowers

August 10th 2007 01:54

I thought I’d follow my “guns” post with a post on flowers, just to be provocative and ever so slightly contentious. I can be hypocritical at times, but at the end of the day it comes down to sheer visual aesthetics, and flowers are beautiful things.

I’m not a pansy though, pun intended. It’s not like I go all weak at the knees and dab a handkerchief across my perspiring brow when I pass a bed of roses. But flowers are extraordinary; the rich colours and curious shapes, and they smell damn fine too, like the simple, yet utterly gorgeous, pink frangipani.

Can you imagine how dreary and glum the world would be without the visual allure and complex natural decoration flowers provide us with? They’re a symbol of love and life, their blossoming signals birth and creation. They’re essential to weddings and well-wishers. Flowers feature in every kind of design; from wallpaper to carpets, porcelain to costumes.

In western culture certain flowers symbolise different things. Red roses are given as a symbol of love, beauty, and passion. Poppies are a symbol of consolation in time of death. In the UK, Australia and Canada, red poppies are worn to commemorate soldiers who have died in times of war. The Iris and Lily are used in burials as a symbol referring to "resurrection/life". Daisies are a symbol of innocence.

The Roman goddess of flowers, gardens, and the season of Spring is Flora. The Greek goddess of spring, flowers and nature is Chloris. In Hindu mythology Vishnu, one of the three major gods, is often depicted standing straight on a lotus flower, which is considered to have a strong spiritual significance.

In art the female genitalia is often represented by flowers, especially Asian and western classical art. They are indeed a powerful sexual tool of artistic expression. “Prostitutes for the bees!” as Uncle Monty mused in my favourite comedy Withnail and I. What a glorious metaphor indeed! Yes, nature’s silent whores, seducing those male winged workers with their vibrant hues and heady scents, to enable their sticky love nectar to be spread far and wide.

But enough of the flowery prose, here is my image bed of favourite petals for you to gaze over.

There are so many thousands of flowers in the world. And so many I’ve never, ever seen. But I am fascinated by the cactus flowers; that these simple, yet so striking flowers that grow in such an inhospitable place: the desert. I adore the glorious simplicity and size of sunflowers; they are like the lions of the plant world. But the frangipani is my favourite, yet another of nature’s simple elegant designs … the pink one, of course.

112

Vote

Subscribe to this blog

Email this post to a friend

Start your own blog

[ Link ]

Posted By: Raoul Duke - Category: nature

Related Posts:

Relate This Post

[ Previous - cars ]

[ Next - guns ]

Comments

10 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by katyzzz

August 10th 2007 02:11

Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art

Oh, yes please Raoul, they are exquisite.

And that Rose, perfection, I like to think I can smell them.

What a beautiful start to the day, red eye and all.

katyzzz

Comment by DuskDevi

August 10th 2007 07:28

Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007

In Hindu mythology Vishnu.....on a lotus flower, which is considered to have a strong spiritual significance.

The Lotus signifies the birth and the growth of power...and beauty...and purity...of the soul.

This is a beautiful feature Raoul....and funny!
Pink frangipanis are my favourite too...a very Gamma flower...

These images are just...divine...

Comment by JohnDoe

August 10th 2007 08:03

Film & TV on DVD

Pretty, shame I'm alergic to pollen - atchoo!

Comment by Chic Critique

August 10th 2007 13:40

Ooohh! Preeetttyyyy!!!

I could feel my heart getting lighter and happier with each photo...

NICE post!

Cheers
CC

Comment by Raoul Duke

August 11th 2007 00:21

Style of Eye

DuskDevi, yes the Lotus is sublime! And I live for summer when they are in abundance!

JohnDoe, bless you!

Chic Critique, I'm summoning spring, can you feel the bounce?

thank you all for your colourful comments!

Comment by Lily

August 11th 2007 05:20

Bohemians United
Ars Poetica

Hi Raoul,

My eyes and mind thank you!!
i welcome Spring...

~Lily

Comment by Raoul Duke

August 11th 2007 08:21

Style of Eye

Lily,
your name alone speaks volumes!

Comment by Lily

August 15th 2007 00:14

Bohemians United
Ars Poetica

Hi Raoul,

thought i'd let you know i can't see the comments here, just lots of purple space..

~Lily

Comment by Raoul Duke

August 15th 2007 04:33

Style of Eye

Lily, tis fixed ... Jon was fiddlin' with the codes, but all the goodness has returned ...

Comment by Lily

August 15th 2007 05:21

Bohemians United
Ars Poetica

goodie good -- i like the layout of your blog, looks great!!

~Lily

[ Previous - cars ]

[ Next - guns ]

Add A Comment

To create a fully formatted comment please click here.

CLICK HERE TO LOGIN | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Name or Orble Tag

Home Page (optional)

Comments

Notify me of replies

Notify extra people about this comment

Is this a private comment?

List the Email Addresses or Orble Tags of the people you would like to be notified about this comment

One per line max of 30

List the Email Addresses or Orble Tags of the people you would like to be notified about this private comment thread. Only the people in this list will be able to see or reply to your comment.

One per line max of 30

Your Name
(for the email going out to the above list, it can be different to your Orble Tag)

Your Email Address

(optional)

(required for reply notification)

Submit

July 2008

1 Posts

June 2008

1 Posts

May 2008

3 Posts