Focus on Flowers

Way back when there were no cell phones, lovers used flowers as coded messages to keep their communications unknown to chaperones.

In North America, frangipani is often associated with Hawaii because of the lovely leis that are made from their blossoms.

Starting in February we can pick garden flowers for indoors.

These plants enjoy rich, moist soil that drains well, and if they're happy in their spot, they will form colonies under deciduous trees but will disappear once the trees leaf out.

King Louis XIV's pleasure gardens were places to entertain and impress, and to glorify himself and his achievements.

In AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted, and huge amounts of volcanic ash covered the city of Pompeii. The ash preserved the homes and gardens that otherwise would have decayed or been destroyed over time.

Pounding can create emotional release and satisfaction for some, and the resulting images can be quite beautiful.

“Hope is like a harebell, trembling from its birth / Love is like a rose, the joy of all the earth... / Harebells and sweet lilies show a thornless growth / But the rose with all its thorns excels them both.”

If you are looking for a sweet gift for a loved one or friend, check out antique stores and thrift shops for miniature vases or cute tiny bottles.