Friday, February 27, 2009

Flower Fetish

This is another guest post by my mother, Katherine.
She's been wonderful helping out with the blog this week.
She really helps out when I need her.

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So, I have a flower fetish.


Wikipedia tells me that a fetish can be, among other things, an attribution of mystical qualities given to inanimate objects.

Are flowers inanimate?



Apparently "inanimate" means not endowed with life or spirit.
Surely flowers have life ... if not spirit.
They certainly stir up my life and spirit.


This first photo is of a Protea.
Proteas were first seen (or noted) at the Cape of Good Hope in the 1600s.
They came to Europe in the 1700s.
They are also known as "sugarbushes."

What a great word: SUGARBUSH.


This is a pink mink protea, below.
Doesn't it look animate?
The petals look like fur.




The flowers were first called Proteas because they were named after the Greek god Proteus who could change his form at will.
This is because Proteas can appear so different from one another.

A close up of another Protea.






Here's a really large Protea with a bee.






The bee has large, orange pollen sacs on its legs.
Pretty neat way to carry pollen.

I'm assuming this is sort of a bee's eye view.





This next flower is some sort of Anthurium (also called "boy flower").
These are really strange looking boy flowers.







And, they are guarded by a group of carved Tiki gods.
I think the middle one looks like an alien.
Perhaps this is Rhea's proof of Aliens seen by the ancients.






If you want to know more about Hawaiin Tiki gods, click here:
Click here: hawaiian tiki gods history

If you want to know more about Protea and Aliens, you're on your own.

18 comments:

lynette355 said...

what interesting flowers
i love flowers but alas kill them
my mom is also the green thumb around here.

Red from Ktown said...

Kinda wicked looking flowers. All pointy & dangerous! Does that say something about you?

theUngourmet said...

I loved the flower lesson today! Thanks!

Shannon said...

Another great post from your mom!


Rhea's Mom,
Have you ever thought about starting your own blog?

Screwed Up Texan said...

Those flowers were gorgeous. I want to go to Hawaii now.

Speaking of fetishes, I have a fetish with vintage aprons...that is to say I love vintage aprons almost to an obsession. I once even blogged about it and titled the post "My Apron Fetish." Now i have weirdos from all over the world visiting my blog for a REAL apron fetish...are people for real???? Who wouldve known?

Sally-Ann said...

I love gardening and flowers, but, they do not love me. My Mum had a bit of a flower fetish. She was a successful gardener as was my Dad.
The 3rd Tiki God looks a little constipated.
Thanks for sharing your Mum's insights with us!!!!

the mama bird diaries said...

my kids are obsessed with fresh flowers. OBSESSED.

Mama Dawg said...

Dude, Rhea. I can totally see where you get your "voice" from.

Your mom rocks!

Jen said...

Wow, beautiful flowers.

Susie said...

I love those flowers!!

Claremont First Ward said...

Excellent flower lesson! Perfect guest post!

sassy stephanie said...

He does look like an alien.

I love fresh flowers. I have a really hard time keeping plants alive though.

Cathy said...

Great Macro photos..

John Deere Mom said...

Hmmm. I think that boy flower looks a bit more like a girl flower...

Misty DawnS said...

So, you have a Sugarbush and a Boy Flower... interesting. They are both beautiful!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Those are lovely! What a nice fetish to have.

Proud Wifey And Mommii of 3 said...

very beautiful flowers

stopping by from SITS
Jessica

Anonymous said...

I ♥ flowers too!

I love your site, thanks for stopping by mine too!!!