Flowers For George Washington

First in War, First in Peace, First in the Garden

Archive for the tag “Horticulture”

20 Feb 2012

What’s in a name?

This week’s bunch of freshly cut flowers are virginal white CallaLilys, which are neither Callas nor Lilys but something entirely different: Zantedeschia aethiopica. A genus native to South Africa roughly translating to “Pig’s Ear,” the CallaLily has found popularity in Anglican countries where it is sometimes known as the Easter Lily, celebrating the resurrection of the rabble rousing rabbi. Of course, Easter (or Pesah in Hebrew), is also etymologically linked to Passover and the Exodus from Egypt.  To further complicate matters, the Easter Lily is also a badge that is worn by Irish Republicans as symbol of remembrance for those who died or were executed during the 1916 Easter Rising.

Which just makes me wonder, why can’t we all just get along?

“Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.”

George Washington circa 1765

January 19, 2012 Santa Monica Farmers Market

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26 Dec 2011

Oh by gosh, by golly…

This week’s bunch of fresh cut flowers are a Winter’s Mix of Hollyberry and Fern. The holly’s bright red berries offer a lovely visual contrast to the prickly thorns of the leaf itself. I am reminded that even as we celebrate the holidays and spend time with family and friends, we are in the midst of a global economic crisis and are certainly teetering on the peaks of great change. Where we will land is anyone’s guess. What can we do collectively to ensure the safest possible landing?

“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

The Crisis by Thomas Paine written on December 23, 1776 which General Washington had read to the troops to boost morale during the depths of the first bleak winter of the Revolutionary War

December 18, 2011 Westchester Bristol Farms

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21 Dec 2011

Summer Stock and Tea Parties

This week’s bunch of fresh cut flowers are Matthiola Incana, commonly known as Hoary or Ten Weeks Stock, which seems analogous to our current congressional participants (across both the upper and lower houses), a ill-mannered lot whose remarkable amateurish performance suggests hopeful actors attending the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, where they could apprentice (paying $150 for the summer) to learn their craft and observe—and possibly work with—professionals.

Is this the best our country can offer in the way of representation?

“My best way of thanking voters was by making their interests my own and doing everything that lies in my little power, for the honor and welfare of the country.”

George Washington 1758

December 10, 2011 Manhattan Beach Whole Foods Market

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11 Dec 2011

Mon Ami, what happened to our Bonhomie?

This week’s bunch of freshly cut flowers are vibrant yellow French Tulips, which were first introduced to the West in the late 1500’s by an illegitimate Flemish herbalist who became the Austrian ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople. While Tulips have long been a spring flower, certain varietals can flourish throughout the summer into fall and even winter as long as they avoid an early frost. 

“It is a maxim founded on the universal experience of mankind that no nation is to be trusted farther than it is bound by its interest.” George Washington on his relationship with the French – 1778

December 3, 2011 Santa Monica Farmers Market

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04 Dec 2011

Dead Pokemon Walking

This week’s bunch of freshly cut bloomers are bright yellow and orange Marigolds. Regarded as the flower of the dead in pre-Hispanic Mexico, they are still widely used in Day of the Dead celebrations, which seems somewhat appropriate as we say goodbye to the oddly contentious yet eternally hopeful Herman Cain presidential campaign.

“Party disputes and personal quarrels are the great business of the day while the great and accumulated debt, ruined finances, depreciated money, and want of credit were postponed from day to day, from week to week, as if our affairs wore the most promising aspect.” George Washington, circa 1778.

November 20, 2011 Westchester Bristol Farms

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27 Nov 2011

Feed Your Hunger

This week’s bunch of fresh cut flowers are orange Safflowers, which is not only one of humanities oldest species, but is also known as Bastard Saffron because of its use as a cheaper version of Saffron. The oil from its seeds also forms the base of the white gook my father lovingly lathered on his sunday tuna fish sandwiches. Which just goes to prove that this herbacious flower serves a greater purpose than merely being a prickly, yet attractive accoutrement to suburban living, something to keep in mind as we enter this holiday season.

“Let the hospitality of the house with respect to the poor be kept up.” “Let no one go hungry away… provided it does not encourage them in idleness.” George Washington circa 1762

November 13, 2011 Westchester Bristol Farms

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17 Nov 2011

Are you prepared to change in order to live a better life?

This week’s bunch of fresh cut flowers are Cardinal and Gold Fall Mums (apologies to the troops hunkering down in the fields of Westwood). Their rich autumnal colors signal the natural order of change that surrounds us. It also makes me wonder at how hard we humans fight change of any sort and what we are willing to compromise in order to avoid it.

“Is the paltry consideration of a little dirty pelf to individuals to be placed in competition with the essential rights and liberties of the present generation and of millions yet unborn?” George Washington, 1778

November 5, 2011 Westchester Bristol Farms

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23 Oct 2011
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I’m Having A Debtor’s Ball

This week’s bunch of fresh flowers are Lime Green Chrysanthemums, which embody mixed meanings; in the east they are a symbol for longevity, wealth and happiness, while in the west they signify decadence and death. Perhaps interpretation depends on your success rate with put options.

“there is no practice more dangerous than that of borrowing money… for when money can be had in this way, repayment is seldom thought of in time… Exertions to raise it by dint of industry ceases. It comes easy and is spent freely and many things indulged in that would never be thought of, if to be purchased by the sweat of the brow. In the meantime, the debt is accumulating like a snowball in rolling.” George Washington, circa 1760.

October 22, 2011 Playa Vista Farmers Market

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08 Oct 2011

One Nation, Under God

This week’s fresh cut flowers are lavender white, Alstroemerias, which offer slender comfort to me during these fitful times.

“We have abundant reason to rejoice that, in this land, the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the power of bigotry and superstition.” January 1793.

And yet…

Are you ready for some football?

October 1, 2011 Westchester Bristol Farms

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13 Sep 2011

A Beautiful Crown

This week’s fresh cut flowers are a bunch of beautiful Purple and Gold, Matsumoto Asters, which brighten up any room they find themselves in, even one populated with a collection of self-absorbed politicians and an increasingly longer list of overstimulated media prognosticators and rabble rousing everymen who seem to enjoy the feeling of free fall.

“Nothing I more sincerely wish than a union to the colonies in this time of eminent danger.” April 1756

September 3, 2011 from Westchester Bristol Farms

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