Chapter 2: Flowers-“Tranquiliy e mia”
(Albanian terms for My Tranquility)
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My own creation. |
Seeing these things even from afar or just in a picture makes me feel so relaxed and happy. It even changes my mood whenever I’m sad or worried into calmness. These are flowers. I really love flowers and how I wish I could go into a place where it is surrounded by different colorful flowers.
There is this saying of Ralph Waldo Emerson which states that “what is life but the angle of vision? A man is measured by the angle at which he looks at objects.” So as for me, I considered flowers as my greatest happiness. At last, I’ll be able to have a compilation of different images of flowers.
Within the last 140 million years, flowering plants have become the dominant vegetation in our planet. Only the ice-covered continent of Antarctica doesn’t have flowers. It is universally appreciated because of their delicate shapes, stunning colors and sweet fragrances that’s why they are often part of ceremonies particularly wedding. Aside from their vibrant beauty, it bears fruit, can be used to create commercial products and for medicine.
All flowers in whatever size and wherever they grow have the same functions which to produce seeds which grow and form a new generation of plants. The loss of flower species as the base of food chain, implies loses for entire ecosystem—Nature Conservancy Organization. We must all value flowers because their loss might because people seek to cure different diseases and the animal pollinators will be threatened.
They play integral role in the movement of the seasons, providing primary-produced sugars for insects and habitat for microorganisms. Animals and humans could not exist without flowers and primary producers which first fix the sunlight into edible forms. They also play vital role in transforming soil substances into organic horizons, layers of mineral-soils that have been transformed into organic matter by the life and death of plants. By their mere existence, where there are temporaries, permanent is maintained.
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BUCIT Grounds captured by yours truly. |
THE LIFE CYCLE AND VARIATIONS
Each flower has distinctive life cycle. Some of them live for years and even centuries while others only took months. However, they all go through the same stages.
First, they form flower buds. Once it burst, it attracts pollinators where pollination takes place. After that, petals slowly fade; fall away and then seed are produced. As the seeds fall and scatter on the ground, the cycle begins again.
We have three variations of flowers namely annual, biennial and perennial. Whenever the plant produces flowers and fruits only a year, it is annual. If it takes two years to produce, it is biennial if it takes three or more years before it production, it is under perennial variation.
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I captured it from the cover of my notebook. |
Did you know that there is this process wherein plants are being refrigerated when they are still quite young? It is the cold treatment/spell if you want to let the plant produce flowers as early as possible. This is so called the vernalization process. Tulips, daffodils and irises are good examples of this process because they are flowers under perennial variation.
There are also flowers that vary their blooming period into the amount of light and darkness periods. Strawberry flowers and violets are its example because they bloom only in a short time during day hours and blooms longer during nights.
BLOOMING FLOWERS AND THEIR POLLINATION
These things might be too familiar already but still, I’d like to share some about it.
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Cover of my notebook. |
It starts as a small bud which is enclosed in a protective sepal. As it grows, the sepals pushed apart to give way for the sprouting petals. As the flower opens, it exposes the anthers and stigma. Once it is fully opened, it is now ready to be pollinated. And as the fruit and seeds develop, it now fulfills its promise of a new generation. Upon releasing, their seeds arrive at new destinations through different ways be it through the wind or be carried by people.
Different animal pollinators vary through the flowers’ color and odor. Birds mostly prefer those red/yellow flowers with a little odor while bees are more attracted with those flowers that are yellow/blue with sweet fragrance. Unlike the beetles, they prefer white/neutral flowers with unpleasant odor.
SYMBOLISM
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Lotus- a cover of my notebook. |
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Conical petals- a cover of my notebook. |
In Japanese culture, they made use of flowers as a medium of prayer to offer to their Lord Buddha. For them, lotus symbolizes wealth, perfection, truth, immortality and everlasting nature. Whenever it is being tattooed, it signifies the struggle that each has to go through in life.
They also have this “flower of twenty days” or a flower with a short blooming period and are peony. It signifies aristocracy and prosperity because the upper class of the society before mostly in favored of peonies. They also give importance to the morning glory which signifies mortality and spreads heavenly beauty almost everywhere.
Chrysanthemum which takes a long period of time in blooming signifies longevity. They are usually used in occasions wherein one could wish for a long life. But the most important for all Japanese customs are the pines for no occasion is complete without it.
According to 800flowers.com, roses symbolize everlasting love; lilies for elegance, virginity and purity; daisy for innocence; orange blossoms for marriage and fruitfulness; zinnias for long lasting affection and ivy for fidelity.
“Though flowers don’t language, they possess an ability to verbalize one’s filled feelings.” That was according to an unknown poet who added that the beauty of flowers is so charming which is so appealing to anyone’s senses. Henceforth, flowers are mostly used to speak out any unspoken human emotions. That’s why, it really matter for us to know the meaning of the flower we are about to use in a particular occasion.
WHY's
Why do people give flowers?
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/osiatynska/3803041081/ |
Usually, people tend to give flowers because of three things namely gratitude, comfort and honor. Whenever people want to give thanks to others, sometimes they make use of flowers. Mostly, it is during mother/father’s day, birthday, teacher’s day, valentines, anniversaries, etc.
Comforting someone can either be through giving of flowers. Since they also symbolize nature which is created by God, they are also considered as God’s language. And whenever honoring someone, the color and type of flowers must be taken into consideration be it for courtship, graduation, recognition, commemoration, etc.
Why do bride carry bouquet?
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From the site of wedding bouquet. |
In the 15th century, a man named Huffington Post said that people in these times took their baths yearly in May and would preferably get married by June. So, for the brides to mask of the smell of their body, they carry bouquet.
Meanwhile, according to OurMarriage.com, people before are afraid of demons. So consequently, bride carries smelly herbs and spices in their bouquet to get rid of evil spirits.
Right now, carrying bouquet is still being practiced just to follow what has been done traditionally and to add up beauty, fragrance and elegance to the wedding.
Why do bride throw the bouquet during reception?
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfeatherstone/5788082296/sizes/m/in/photostream/ |
Traditionally from 14th century, wedding guests would team away pieces of the bride’s gown as a sign of good luck. But now, to avoid cause of danger, they made use of the bouquet be thrown.
It was also believed that the one who will be able to catch the bouquet will destine to be the next to get married. And that she will be blessed with the ability to bear children since flowers do symbolizes nature. Brides put baby’s breath into it as a sign of ‘wishes that the recipient’s womb will be fruitful.’
A bouquet also symbolizes fortune because of the dried herbs and flowers used. The European culture says that the one who catches the bouquet will be blessed of bountiful living. Accordingly, it is being practiced because it is a time-honored tradition which has been the habit in many other cultures.
Do you want to know what my favorite flower is? Actually, I like any kind of flower especially when it is white. It is because for me, it signifies sincerity.
You may go to these sites for further information about flowers:
REFERENCES
