Monday, April 1, 2013

Flowers For The Writer's Spirit





When I was growing up, there were two things I could always depend on...a vegetable garden wherever we lived and my mother's flowers.  One was used for our bodies and the other for our spirits.

Every year my mother would search through the seed catalogs and before too long the mailman would bring that year's bounty of beauties to adorn her flower beds.  Tulips were her favorites and I could always bet there would be a variety of them to greet me when I stepped out of the house each morning.  It was later, however, when I discovered flowers had their own special meaning and bouquets could be formed to send a special message to the receiver.

With that in mind, and in celebration of Spring, here is a list of flowers making up my own Writer's Bouquet with a special message for all my writer friends. Take a moment to smell their rich scent and hold them close when you are struggling with a particular manuscript...



 

Angelica or Angel's Flower...this white flower stands for inspiration and what writer doesn't need a little bit of that every now and then?


 

Aster...this small flower stand for patience and that is certainly needed by writers as we nervously wait for that acceptance letter.



Clover...who doesn't know this flower stands for good luck? Despite a writer's talent, it still take a certain amount of luck to make it in this industry.



Edelweiss...this delicate flower means courage and that is certainly something all writers need these days.  It takes courage to keep writing after the rejection letters arrive.


 

King Protea...this exotic looking flower actually means daring and what writer doesn't need to be daring when they jump into the writing fire?



Mountain Laurel...this starburst flower stands for perseverance. Writers have to overcome many obstacles on the path to publication and giving up is not an option.



Red Camellia...this beautiful, almost rose-like flower means excellence.  Excellence in our stories, excellence in our dealings with others, excellence in our commitment to being the best writers we can be.



There you have it.  A writer's bouquet to enrich our lives and lift our spirits to the next level.  There are many more flowers with meanings to touch a writer's heart, but if we take only these and keep them close, surely our writer's gardens will bloom with the most fragrant manuscripts?









84 comments:

  1. Hi Donna .. great post - and so beautiful to look at .. and I'm sure manuscripts will come bounding out of the garden ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary! Thanks for your kind words and yes, very lovely to look at...now if I just had that bouquet on my desk right now...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. Hi Donna,
    I'm not sure I have my facts right here (the memory banks sometimes confuse) but I believe it was this blog I came across a year to the day. You participated in a bloggers A-Z challenge and I thought it a good idea and promptly signed up myself. It turned out to be a turning point for me because without what followed as a direct result A Different Class would still be gathering dust. However I see you haven't signed up for it this year :( but the challenge did indeed become a challenge and I only survived thanks to the wonder of advance scheduling.

    Is this correct or did I dream it?

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    1. Hi JP! You're memory is not fading...you are correct. I was originally signed up for the A-Z Challenge this year and intended to run through some interesting tidbits from my childhood (interesting to me anyway...;~) but other commitments got in my way so last week I had to withdraw. People will just have to learn about my ghosts and armadillo adventures at some other time...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. I love the idea of flowers for writers! In my current WIP, one of the family's members are named for botanicals. Great post!

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    1. Thanks, Corinne, and welcome to my blog! Some of my friends are still buried under snow so I thought this post would help them celebrate Spring...:~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. Beautiful flowers and beautiful words. I'll be thinking about this the next time I write :)

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    1. Thanks, J.A., I try really hard to inform, entertain, and surprise...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. I love having flowers in my yard and on my porch. They always cheer me up :)

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    1. Hi Marcy and welcome to my blog! There are so many flowers to choose from, surely everyone can find a flower to love? ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. Lovely post—both the pictures and the words. Thank you!

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    1. Hi Dana and welcome to my blog! Thank you for your kind words...I try to make my posts fun and informative...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. My mother and my grandmother were flower lovers. Yesterday I saw my mother was trying to grow pineapples and I couldn't help to smile. She would make stones grow if they were born from seeds.

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    1. Hi Al and welcome to my blog! My mother loved flower of all kinds but she never tried growing a pineapple...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  8. Poring over the spring seed and flower catalogs is so much fun. I always think I'm going to order something - and even go so far as to mark it - then I don't follow through! Maybe this year will be the year.
    You should do flowers for the A to Z! Don't you think? Your first post is already here with Angel's Flower and Aster!

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    1. Hi Donna and welcome to my blog! I used to do the same thing...mark up the catalog and daydream of how lovely my back yard would look...unfortunately don't have enough hours in the day to do everything I would like to do...;~(

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. Very pretty...my hollyhocks are in full bloom right now. I love sitting out in the yard and enjoying them:)

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    1. Hi, M.J., and welcome to my blog! I have a small amount of honeysuckle in my back yard and love the smell of them when they are in full bloom!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  10. Hello, Donna! All of these flowers are perfectly symbolic for writers. I especially love the mountain laurel, since it's my name's meaning and it's Pennsylvania's state flower!

    Happy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

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    1. Hi Laura and welcome to my blog! Those mountain laurel flowers sure are beautiful, aren't they?

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  11. What an awesome mom! Bummer that gardening isn't my thing ..I'd be healthier and livelier! --These are lovely flowers and meanings that relate. --Thanks for stoppin' by my neck of the woods. :)

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    1. Hi Jinky and welcome to my blog! Yep, my mother could make just about anything grow and just about anywhere...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  12. Replies
    1. Hi and welcome to my blog! I was trying to welcome in spring for some of my friends still shoveling snow...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  13. My mother was always so good with flowers? Which ones are the easiest to grow? Because unfortunately, I did not inherit her talent.

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    1. Hi Diane and welcome to my blog! Unfortunately I didn't inherit her green thumb either when it came to flowers...lol...I would imagine simple wild flowers would be the easiest to grow since you could just throw some seeds in an open field and hope they grow.

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  14. We've been trying to do a garden here, for a while. I think you're right in that flowers are good for the soul.

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    1. Hi Mark and welcome to my blog! I think flowers, like all of nature, is there to help restore our souls and give us a sense of peace which might be missing in our sometimes turbulent lives...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  15. What a lovely writer's bouquet. I love that you included clovers. ;)

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    1. Hi Kimberly and welcome to my blog! Thank you for your kind words. Of course I had to include clovers...I'm part Scots-Irish so what kind of bouquet COULD I have without my good luck flowers? ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  16. I'm a big fan of camellias. We have four in our garden including a massive pink one that dominates the path in our back garden. Excellent way of linking them to our writing. :)

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    1. Hi Pete and welcome to my blog! I LOVE analogies...someone called me the Queen of analogies once because I use so many of them on my blog...lol...and what better way to connect the beauty of a well written story to that of a lovely bouquet of flowers? :~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  17. Hi, Donna,

    Thank you. This was such a thoughtful and wondrous gift you have given us!

    I LOVE flowers ... Guess because I was born in April. You even have my mither's favorite flower... The camellia...

    Have a lovy spring and thankk youvfor stopping by my blog earlier....

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    1. Hi Michael and welcome to my blog! There were so many other flowers to choose from that it was hard just using these. And come to think of it, maybe I should have used tulips in honor of my mohter? Oh well, maybe I just need to put together another vase of flowers to enjoy? ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  18. Never knew there was that much to know, sadly no green thumb at my show. Will have to stop and smell the roses now or another one on the list as I take a bow.

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    1. Hi Pat and welcome to my blog! Love the rhyme, glad you took the time, good luck with A to Z, be the best you can be...:~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  19. Hi, really nice flowers. I loved the beauty and simplicity.

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    1. Hi Mary and welcome to my blog! I try to keep things as simple as possible in all aspects of my life so I know what you mean!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  20. Lovely flowers. Enjoyed them. Thanks for visiting my blog.

    JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

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    1. Hi Jo and welcome to my blog! Wish I had the time to participate in the A to Z challenge but I will check back to see how things are going.

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  21. Beautiful! My favourite is Angelica!

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    1. Hi Ghadeer and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you enjoyed this post...I think my favorite is the Camellie...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  22. I love tulips too. I could use a whole garden of all those flowers that you'd mentioned. Such lovely images.

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    1. Hi Cynthia and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you liked this post and I agree...a beautiful garden full of these flowers would be wonderful...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  23. King Protea---BLEH!! Not pretty

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    1. Lol, Janet...not all flowers are for everyone...that's why there are so many choices so everyone can pick one...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  24. I went for many years without flowers/greenery around me and it was hard. I have now a patch of dirt to work with and can't wait for the warm temps. Good post

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    1. Thanks Alexandra and welcome to my blog! I put down astroturf on my second floor balcony of an apartment one time because I had no grass...I certainly understand what you were missing. Come on Spring and warmer weather...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  25. Very nice! Don't those edelweiss cling on for dear life to the sides of mountains through frost and snow? I think most writers know what that feels like. :)

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    1. Lol, nice Nick! Why didn't I think of that?

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  26. This was a lovely post Donna. Edelweiss is my favorite flower, had it at my wedding, but I never knew they stood for courage. Now, I love them even more! :0)- Donna L Sadd

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    1. Hi Donna and welcome to my blog! Thanks for your kind words...I'm glad you like it...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  27. These are beautiful. I don't know as I have a favorite flower, but I do love orchids and roses. The edelweiss is a gorgeous, hardy flower that really does represent the writer and I love that red camillia as well.

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    1. Hi Melissa and welcome to my blog! I'm not sure I have a favorite either...I just love beauty in all forms...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  28. I'm so jealous that you grew up with flower beds. Thank you for this lovely information and thank you for stopping by my blog earlier today.

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    1. Hi Sopphey and welcome to my blog! I had a number of flower beds as well as vegetable gardens...and an equal number of weeds in each to have to pull each week...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  29. Beautiful pictures - after this winter I am so ready for spring! Thanks for the sneak preview.

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    1. Hi Cindy and welcome to my blog! Mother Nature can't figure out what she wants to do around my house...ice and snow one day and almost 70 the next...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  30. Oh, wow! Such beautiful flowers, and I love what each one of them means. The only flowers we've been able to grow to some success have been irises. I wonder what they mean.

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    1. Hi Cherie and welcome to my blog! The iris is Tennessee's state flower (my home state) and is commonly linked with meanings of hope, valor, and wisdom...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  31. Lovely post, Donna--thanks for the virtual bouquets! I wish flowers grew easier in this rocky island where I live. There's very little rain, the soil is everything but hospitable, and the searing sun... Well, let's just say even lantana withers without daily (sometimes twice daily) drenchings. *Sigh*

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    1. Hi Gullie and welcome to my blog! I'm sorry to hear flowers have a hard time growing in your part of the word but glad I could offer some virtual beauty up from mine...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  32. So beautiful, the post and the flowers!! So far my flowers are dandelions! Thank you for stopping by my blog!
    Connie
    Peanut Butter and Whine

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    1. Hi Connie and welcome to my blog! Thank you for your kind words. It is a pleasant surprise to see so many people enjoying this post...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  33. Love the flower pics! Nice.

    I have a really crappy camera but still the urge to take macro pics of any flowers I see. I really need a new camera!!

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    1. Hi Trisha and welcome to my blog! Lol...does your phone have a camera? Most of my flowers come straight from the internet...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  34. This is beautiful! I love the language of flowers~
    :D

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    1. Hi Ella and welcome to my blog! I love the language of flowers as well...now if I could just figure out which ones means MONEY...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  35. Great information, as usual, Donna! I didn't know any of those tidbits except the clover. I am a firm believer in fresh flowers being good for the soul. When I was a teacher, I had flowers on my desk every single day - ditto on my dining room table. Now they're just on my table, so not a day goes by that I don't see flowers. I cringe to think of the money I've spent, but what I get in return is worth it.

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    1. Hi Genevieve! I wish I had the time, money, talent, and ability to handle the sun (I'm allergic) in order to raise flowers myself but alas, I leave that particular green thumb to others...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  36. I love the flowers. I didn't know that's what edelweiss looks like. Not doing the A to Z this year, just commenting?

    KC @ The Occasional Adventures of a Hermit & Oh Frog It

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    1. Hi KC and welcome to my blog! No, unfortunately I have too many other commitments this year to be able to fully participate but I had so much fun last year and met so many incredible people that I thought I would visit as many of the blogs as I could this year any way and maybe meet some more friends in the process...;~)

      I still post three times a week for anyone who is interested!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  37. Hi Donna! Thanks for coming by my blog! Returning your visit - you have a very cool blog - I love your flower post - they're so vibrant and fragrant and colorful! I'll let you in on a secret though - I always thought Edelweiss was a cheese!

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    1. Hi Craig and welcome to my blog! Thank you for your kind words and your comment about Edelweiss made me smile. Fyi...I'm a new follower of your blog...cool site for an insight to the Golden Age of Hollywood...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  38. wow, those King Protea inparticular look wonderful! And I could use some more daring ;)

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    1. Hi Lynda and welcome to my blog! I think everyone could use a touch of daring every now and again...especially in our writing...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  39. My mother has an amazing green thumb too. She looks at flowers and they grow : ) I do have an appreciation for a wonderful garden, and I try here but we have so much wildlife to contend with I have to mostly stick to pots.

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog yesterday!

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    1. Hi Joyce and welcome to my blog! I just commented on your post for today and am a new follower...great blog!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  40. I love this! I just bought a book to help me decipher the meanings of flowers as symbols. Much to learn, much to learn.

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    1. Hi Elisabeth and welcome to my blog! Maybe a lot to learn but a chance to surround yourself in beautiful flowers while you do it...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  41. Wonderful pictures, Donna. The mountain laurel reminds me of the dianthus.

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    1. Hi J.L. and welcome to my blog! I'm glad you enjoyed the post. If you like analogies, take time to check out some of my archived posts...they call me the Queen of analogies...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  42. Hi Donna...First, thank-you so much for stopping by my Letter'B' post...Bluebonnet Lore. It seems we are both on the same wave length with Flowers. I so enjoyed this post and the photos of the flowers with their writers messages.

    I, too, participated last year in the AtoZ Challenge for the first time, and it was an encouraging experience for my story telling. I'm glad you enjoyed my theme of Family History and Quilts.
    Sue~CollectInTexasGal
    AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

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    1. Hi Sue and welcome to my blog! I sent you a message asking about how to follow your Tracks of My Texas Ancestors blog. I am fascinated with personal histories and memoirs but couldn't see how to become a follower of that interesting blog...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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