Widow's Endorphins: Snapdragons

Widow's Endorphins: Snapdragons:   I've loved snapdragons ever since I was a little girl exploring my backyard garden.  These colourful end of Summer flowers are m...

Snapdragons

 

I've loved snapdragons ever since I was a little girl exploring my backyard garden.  These colourful end of Summer flowers are made for children's imaginations and games.  Do you remember pinching the sides of the base of a flower, so that it's mouth would open like a fire breathing dragon?  If you were lucky, you could get a dozen good roars out of single blossom, before it turned limp, and withered in your fingers.  Dragon slayers!

Even big kids love 'em.  When I showed my Brazilian friends why the flowers are called snapdragons, their looks of astonished joy were priceless.  For the next few minutes, these grown men became little boys again.  Priceless! 

The botanical name for snapdragon is Antirrhinum, from the Greek, "anti" for like, and "rhin" for nose.  In other words, they look snout like.  They are believed to have originated in Italy and Spain, and have spread to North Africa, Europe and North America. 

Spread they do...they are a self seeding plant.  Leave them alone in the garden, and they'll come back year after year.  They may not come back in the same original colour.  Many snapdragons are hybrids, and their seeds take on the traits of both "parents".  If you have a red snapdragon, and a white snapdragon, their "offspring" may be pink the following year.  Snapdragons come in every colour, except pure blue. Real dragons come in blue!

    

  

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Life Extension 101

Widow's Endorphins: Life Extension 101: I cycled 10 miles in 27 minutes yesterday!  A year ago, I could barely do half that.  I walked into our communal gym, and climbed on...

Life Extension 101

I cycled 10 miles in 27 minutes yesterday!  A year ago, I could barely do half that.  I walked into our communal gym, and climbed onto a stationary bike, pedalling to nowhere, slowly.  I've lost a lot of inhibitions about exercising in public, lost a little weight, and gained a whole lot of energy! 

One of my highschool friends asked if I was training for a marathon, and I said, "yes, the next 40 years of my life!"  I want to live to be over one hundred!  Exercise, a healthy diet, creative expression, being surrounded with great people, and being at peace, are my prescriptions for a long, and authentically happy life. 

I treasure this charming serving bowl, for the happy little bluebirds, cherry blossoms and indigo blue border...Disney in Provence.  More than one guest this Summer, has enjoyed lemon yogurt, with fresh strawberries, raspberries or blueberries served from this cheery bowl.

The deep bowl was handpainted by a Toronto woman when she was in her eighties.  In her lovely handwriting, she signed the year, and her name on the back: Rachel Aronov, 2000.  I would like to think she continued her art for many more years.  The joy she received in painting, would surely have added years to her life.  

Excercise is great...and for me, creative expression is essential.  I often say I would have gone mad without photography, and all my other art projects.  I am not alone.  So many of my friends have found the peace and joy, and energy that comes with creative expression.   Through photography, painting, drawing, carving, making jewelry, singing, playing guitar, playing piano, dancing, writing, cooking, baking, and gardening - my friends and I have found the fountain of youth!  

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widows Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Dahlias

Widow's Endorphins: Dahlias: Dahlias.  You can't say their name without saying, "ah".  Their abundance of petals, circling symetrically around a sunn...

Dahlias

Dahlias.  You can't say their name without saying, "ah".  Their abundance of petals, circling symetrically around a sunny centre, may draw you inward, and, like the mandalas of India, encourage meditation, and thoughts of yoga.  Dahlias, however, are from the New World.  Early in the16th Century, Spanish Conquistadors "discovered" them in Mexico, and brought them back to Spain.

The dahlia is Mexico's national flower.  Painter Frida Kahlo, the daughter of a gentle, German photographer and a Mexican mother is an iconic modern figure, with black braided hair, often decorated with dahlias.  She once said, "I paint flowers so that they will not die", and dahlias are in many of her self portraits and still life paintings.     

Dahlias are part of the Asteraceae family of flowers which includes sunflowers, chrysanthemums, zinnias, and daisies.  Think of the word, astral.  These flowers have a starlike appearance, with rays extending in all directions.  Hardy, and gorgeous, they are stars of the garden.  There are more than 40 varieties of dahlias, ranging in width from two inches, to dinner plate size.  The colours range from cream, to yellow, pale pink, lavender, and fiery salsa red.  Dahlias radiate energy! 

These long lasting flowers are lovely in any arrangement, and work especially well with snapdragons, lilies, and deliphiniums, which bloom at the same time of the year.  Dahlias are showy, and dramatic, although they can be old fashioned and demure, depending on the softness of the colour.  To paraphrase Frida Kahlo, bring dahlias into your home, and make the Summer last longer.     

Portrait of Frida Kahlo Fiery Dahlia of Mexico, by Oksana Gruszka Sanaj
Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.