I am not the romantic
type. Hardly ever have I bought a bunch of flowers as a gift to express my
thanks, or as a token of my love, and yet I am the loser, and those who deserve
my thanks and love are losers too. I am a loser because I have not received joy
from giving something that is precious, a special unique gift. Each flower is a
thing of beauty, incredibly fashioned, its parts contributing to the whole:
sepal, stamen, stigma and colourful petals. Even flowers that appear identical
are minutely different, just as fingerprints and snowflakes are unique.
Quite frankly, I am stunned – utterly amazed at nature’s
variety, especially flowers. There are so many varieties; some with three petals,
four, perhaps five and yet others with multiple petals in clusters, far too difficult
to count. There are flowers shaped like trumpets or bells, and those resembling
miniature sculptures, symmetrical or asymmetrical. Roses and orchids are my favourites. I
remember being overwhelmed by the sight and smell of hundreds of wonderful
orchids at a specialist show in Brisbane. In my mind I was transported to the Garden
of Eden, where Adam and Eve walked with God before their disobedience.
‘Then the LORD God
said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us to know good and evil. And
now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and
live forever” – therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to
till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed
cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned
every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.’ (Genesis 3:22 – 24)
Links
Garden Flowers
October Flowers
Autumn Garden Photos
Paradise Found
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