Floriography, by Gina Margolies

I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o’er Vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd A host of dancing Daffodils; Along the Lake, beneath the trees, Ten thousand dancing in the breeze. The waves beside them danced, but they Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay In such a laughing company: I gaz’d - and gaz’d - but little thought What wealth the whew to me had brought: For oft when on my could I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward...

Food for Thought - Purification      Purification might seem an odd topic for a month so strongly associated with boxes of chocolate, but its significance stems from the root of the word February. Like so much of our language, the English word February is derived from a Latin word. The Roman month of Februarius had the festival called the Februa or the Februatio festival, which took place on the 13th to 15th days of this month. The festival was one of ritual purification. Maybe this was the Roman way of detoxing after the holidays? A jump start on spring...

     Mistletoe is a traditional part of Christmas decorating in many American homes. Which is actually kind of funny as mistletoe is a parasite. Not a particularly festive or romantic thought, but true. The plant commonly grows on trees by attaching itself to the branches. It survives by penetrating the branches of the host plant and absorbing water and nutrients.        Many of our ancient ancestors revered mistletoe although the reason for their reverence can be a bit murky. The Druids held mistletoe in great esteem and believed the tree on which it was found, generally the...

  It seems that the common belief about how the narcissus flower got its name is not necessarily accurate. I always thought that the narcissus flower was named after the Greek youth who fell in love with himself, giving us the term narcissist. However, references to narcissus can be seen in sources dated before the myth of the beautiful youth appears. It turns out that there are several theories about the name’s origin, none of them really proven. The Greek myth of Narcissus says a very handsome young man was so taken with his reflection in water that he could...

The Flowers Personified There is a language in each flower That opens to the eye, A voiceless - but a magic power, Doth in earth’s blossoms lie; Yes - flowers have tones - God gave to each A language of its own, And bade the simple blossom teach Where’er its seeds are sown. The Flowers Personified by J. J. Grandville   Have you ever found an object that was odd or funny or unusual which, for no practical or obvious reason, you liked?  Something like a doorknob from an antiques fair that you bought with no intended door for it...