Orchids, not your typical flower. The delicate beauty of the orchid belies a mischievous nature and unique history. I love to look at them and make up stories that take me away somewhere. This got me to research them a bit and what curious things I found. Here are my top five fun facts about orchids:
Category Archives: Curious Tidbits
Artichoke-ing Me?!
(Yes, that is an artichoke!)
Who knew these most annoying appetizers blossom to such beautiful flowers?
The Hummingbird’s Tongue is 18 Inches Long…What?!
The quaint little bird we see hover at bird feeders and dash between flowers has some unusual characteristics for sure, but the hummingbird’s tongue is 18 inches long…what?!
The Selfie
The selfie, it is the new extension of ourselves. We take it to share our (referring to the collective “our”) exciting adventures, life moments, or just to brag. There is even the selfie stick to help the situation for those of us who don’t have full arm extension, and all sorts of filters to use before “sharing” the pictures with others. However, I think Spaceman and I may be missing something about this engaging art form…yes?
(at least the picture is in focus!)
Lessons Learned from Mom, Happy Mother’s Day!
In honor of Mother’s Day, I have decided to pour a stiff drink and share some wisdom I’ve learned from my mom.
Topiaries, for life!
Have you ever really thought about the topiary? It is a beautifully trimmed plant that clearly takes the shape of something, anything. They also happen to make me very happy.
Easter Lily Fun Facts
Easter is only days away and one of my favorite things about this time of year is the emergence of the Easter Lily, all over the place — stores, homes, churches. It got me wondering, why the Easter Lily? They are beautiful and fragrant, but so are other flowers. Here are some interesting tidbits I found out about this beauty…
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The Easter Lily symbolizes joy, hope and life.
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The Easter Lily is also called “The White-Robed Apostle of Hope.” They are said to have been found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane where Christ’s tears touched the ground.
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World War 1 soldier, Louis Houghton, is responsible for introducing the Easter Lily to the United States. He brought the hybrid lily bulb to the southern coast of Oregon (which is climatically similar to its native Ryukyu Islands of Japan) and the rest is history.
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95% of all bulbs grown for the Easter Lily market are produced by ten farms in a narrow coastal region along the California-Oregon border.
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The potted Easter Lily is the fourth largest potted crop plant in the United States taking its place among the powerhouse poinsettias , mums, and azaleas.
Goodbye for now, Mom.
This post is a departure from my regular topics, but I wanted to share how my life has been dramatically changed. A little over a week ago my precious mom died. It was sudden and unexpected. Although her health had not been great for a while, it wasn’t anywhere near life threatening…or so I thought.
However, the woman who was my rock suffered a major stroke and heart attack. The stroke destroyed the left side of her brain and the stress of that caused her to have a heart attack. She lived for three days and then passed on to continue her journey with God in heaven.
Today we bury the woman who knew me the best, loved me the most, and was my best friend. It is hard to believe, but a part of the life cycle I suppose. She was so encouraging about my blog and my writing. It is with those memories (and a million others that make me smile), I will work to live a life that would make her proud. I love you and miss you desperately, but I find comfort in knowing you are resting with the angels, so, goodbye for now, Mom. I will see you again one day.
Chocolate Milk, It’s An Athlete’s Friend
Pinch me, am I dreaming? Over 20 studies have shown that drinking low-fat chocolate milk after a tough workout is one of the best things you can do for your body…dreams do come true!
“Vitamins” – What’s Its Origin?
Ever wonder where the term “vitamins” comes from? We have scientist Casimir Funk to thank (in large part) for this.
Back in the early 1900’s Funk theorized that certain common diseases were the result of dietary deficiencies — a radical theory at the time. He termed these nutrient factors “vital amines”. Quickly other researchers began testing his theory and found that deficiencies in specific vital amine factors could result in blindness, scurvy, and miscarriages to name a few. With time, “vital amines” was shortened to “vitamins”.
Voilà, another question answered!