In ancient times much of the world paused from their work to celebrate flowers. The Roman Goddess Flora was celebrated in the spring. A Maypole was erected,with ribbons streaming down, hands reached up and the dancing began. Young women wore crowns of flowers in their hair. The beauty of life, flowers and fertility was thoroughly celebrated with the hope of a great harvest in the Fall. The celebration lasted several days with games, performances, feasting and drinking.
I became impatient listening to the tour guide explain 700 years of history. Already I calmly sat through a long bus ride from the port of Cadiz to Seville to get to the Royal Palace Gardens of Alcazar. I wanted only to see the garden. So. . . . I slipped away from our tour group.
Painting in plants creates art. This art is the highlight of the Jardin Botanico in Madeira, Portugal. Landscape design is a combination of texture, color, structure, climate and patience. An artist working in oil must allow time for the canvas to completely dry. The garden painter working with a palate of plants must wait for the art to grow.
Once I watched a tourist video the still photos in a hotel lobby. I wondered how those images would be used to relive that moment of the trip. Sometimes it seems the world is looking through a viewfinder and missing the view. I am as guilty of the photo obsession as anyone. Only 24 days into a 35 day journey and Rich and I have shot nearly 6000 images. Scanning through the collection I found my reward in the following images. None of these subjects will last beyond the brief moment when we were there. All were beauty worth capturing.
We are so accustomed to being just one thing, having one label attached to us, we are a teacher, a welder, a policeman, an artist. When we aren’t afraid of being more than one thing, magic is possible.
Love and passion make a powerful combination. A Belgium man deeply in love with his wife and passionate about gardening built a five level garden encompassing eight acres on the island of Tenerife as a gift to his wife. Nearly 40 years ago, in the early 70’s both he and his beloved wife had died and this incredible garden was left in the care of their two daughters.
Once I participated in an ice breaker activity that asked us to identify three unique things about ourselves. I don’t remember what my list was then but I have a new, improved list now.
Flowers are everywhere in Madeira. This island has a perfect climate, warmed by Atlantic currents in the winter and cooled by trade winds in summer. This island celebrates flowers, friendship, food and the art of life every April. The town puts out carpets of flowers for visitors and residents to enjoy. Patterns and paintings done only with flowers run down the center of the cobblestone sidewalks.
It is hard to pack everything you need when you travel. I found a few things I could wear if I have a special occasion. Floral design and fashion meet in Keukenhof.
A chair is not a simple thing, designs number in the thousands. Outdoor options which come to mind include the metal frame with the round back from the 50’s, the folding aluminum frame with the woven strips, and the more recent molded plastic. None of those were at Floriade!
