Dahlia Flowers

 


Delightful Dahlia!
Dancing joyfully with wind like Flavia,
Dressed beautifully like a royal Princess,
Determined to win the pageant to Impress!

Dahlias are exuberant flowers,
Defining their joy with bright colours,
Dazzling petals of ravishing pink, yellow and white,
Dauntless flowers that look straight into the Sky bright!

Do you sense the Sun winking at you, dear Dahlia?
Do you see the Stars smiling at you, sweet Dahlia?
Do you feel the wind caressing you, pretty Dahlia?

Dahlias are flowers of hope and confidence,
Dolly, bold and jolly flowers of flamboyance,
Dreamy, creamy petals of coloured exuberance!

Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon











'The Delightful Dahlia'
Full of Hope, Confidence, Joy and Beauty.







Dahlia: derived from the Swedish word dal, which means 'valley'. Imagine an image of hillsides covered in these gorgeous brightly coloured flowers in summer.


The Dahlia
History and Mythology

The Empress Josephine adored dahlias. When her marriage to Napolean Bonaparte was annulled she fled to her house ' Malmaison' and sought solace in her extensive gardens. There her dahlias thrived and blossomed and soon became the object of envy. Since hers was one of only two gardens in France known to have this Aztec flower.

Josephine jealousy guarded her precious Dahlia collection, but a visiting Polish count, with the help of her lady-in-waiting, bribed her gardener to remove hundreds of plants. She banished the gardener and her lady-in-waiting and ordered all the Dahlia tubers to be destroyed.



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PASSION FLOWER


The Passion Flower
Flower of the Five Wounds 


In mid June, as summer temperatures rise, this exuberant beauty opens its petals to reveal a multi layered flower of striking complexity. When the Portuguese and Spanish missionaries and explorers arrived in the Americas in the 16th century they were charmed by its features and immediately associated it with Christ's Calvary. The Jesuits named the flower Flos Passionis or Flos de las Ccinco Llaga, Flower of the Five Wounds




RELIGION AND PASSION

Roman Catholic priests of the late 1500s believed that the petals, rays, and sepals, symbolized particular aspects of the Passion (suffering and death of Jesus Christ). The flower's five petallike sepals and five petals depicted the 10 apostles who remained faithful to Jesus throughout the Passion. The circle of hairlike rays above the petals suggested the crown of thorns that Jesus wore on the day of His death.




The Passion Flower
Folklore and Myth

Like so many climbing vines, the passion flower was used as a love charm because of its habit of clinging which was a reminder of clinging love. Among the Catholics, it was regarded as a spiritual herb, symbolic of the crucifixion, and meant to bring peace and blessings to the home when grown around arbors and fences.  






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THE TULIP




Purple tulip 'Queen of the Night' by Flavia Brilli

Mighty oceans of darkness gently flow
Shiny pearls like stars brightly glow
Sensation of your elegant bloom
Appears once in a blue moon

Suspending on a rough spiky surface
Swaying like a pretty young princess

Blooming throughout one summer night
Until become whole and bright

Seducing enigmatic fragrance of absolute divine
Mesmerizing sweet scent of mother natures design

Precious wonder under the calm moonlight
You are the gracious Queen of the Night

© Hemakumar Nanayakkara

ce in a blue moon

Close up of three purple tulips called 'Queen of the Night' by Flavia Brill

Purple Tulip 'Queen of the Night' by Flavia Brilli


'Queen of the Night'
The most delicious, sultry, purple tulip in my garden.


Flavia Brilli, actress and singer, with purple tulip.


Tulip: from the latinized version of the Turkish word for Turban, 'Tubend'. Most likely because the shape of the flower resembled a turban. 



The Black Tulip
'Queen of the Night'
Drama and Elegance

There's something truly magical and mesmerising about the dark lustre of this beautiful tulip. Every Spring I wait patiently for my purple Goddesses to rise and display their sultry heads. And throughout the day I watch and marvel as the changing sunlight changes their purple hues from lightest violet to deepest burgundies and in the shadows almost black.



Close up of  tulip 'Queen of the Night' by Flavia Brilli



Close up of 'Queen of the Night' purple tulip by Flavia Brilli


Close up of Purple tulip 'Queen of the Night' by Flavia Brilli

The Black Tulip
History and Literature

'To have discovered the black tulip, to have seen it for a moment...then to lose it, to lose it forever!'

from  'The Black Tulip' by Dumas


Alexandre Dumas
In Alexandre Dumas's novel 'The Black Tulip', its central character, Cornelius, devotes his life to cultivating a black tulip in order to win the prize of 100,000 guilders. But his jealous neighbour, Boxtel, tricks him into being arrested and he is flung into jail. There he meets the prison guard's beautiful daughter, Rosa, who he entrusts his black tulip bulbs to and who eventually becomes his rescuer.


Alexandre Dumas by Achille Devéria (1829).

Alexandre Dumas by Achille Devéria (1829).


History of the Black Tulip


Since the publishing of Dumas's novel 'La Tulipe Noire', in 1850, generations of Dutch Tulip growers have been inspired to try their hand at creating the Holy Grail of Tulips: The Black Tulip. 

In 1937, the grower, C. Keur, registered his exotic 'Black Parrot', tulip. This was followed in 1944, by the still today very popular 'Queen of The Night', created by J.J. Gruellman. In 1955, M. Van. Waveran's, 'Black Beauty', arrived on the scene. But despite all three being unquestionably the deepest and darkest of all tulips, they were still in fact all darkest purple.

Today, we have the very darkest of all tulips ever created, the 'Paul Scherer. Cultivated by the Dutch flower grower Hageman. This specimen was created by cross-pollinating two of the deepest purple tulips, The Queen of the Night and Wienerwald tulips. And, although it can never claim to be completely and truly black, it is undoubtedly the darkest beauty to date.

The Paul Scherer Tulip- Currently the blackest of the black Tulips




White and purple tulips by Flavia Brilli
White tulip unfurling in the morning sunlight with purple tulips in background by Flavia Brilli


Roman Mythology


According to Roman mythology, the Tulip was once a beautiful Dalmatian nymph, whose sea God father endowed her with his love of  bright changing colours. 

One day, the God of Spring, Vertumnus, spied the colourful nymph playing by a stream, and was so captivated by her beauty that he tried to take her by force. 

Fortunately, her cries were heard by the rural powers, who changed her into a flower of many hues, and Vertumnus was thwarted.


Love Nymph by Anders Zorn 1885
Love Nymph by Anders Zorn 1885


Emperor Rudolf II as Vertumnus, the Roman god of Spring and the seasons by Guiseppe Archimboldo


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THE LILY


close up of pink lily by Flavia Brilli



Lilium: from the Greek word 'leirion'. Tall, elegant, this regal lady gloriously and assuredly rises from the soil in summer.

Singularly sensual, elegant and beautiful: She has no competitors.With her beauty she commands your eye; with her fragrance she commands your senses.


Close up of white lily flowers by Flavia Brilli

Close up of white lily flower by Flavia Brilli

Sweet White Lily

I give you my sweet white Lily
My petals a treasure from heaven above.
  Soft and plush like that of crushed velvet.  Tender and pink do they lay beneath. My scent so gloriously enticing.
A most divine essence to behold. Petal upon sweet petal for you to unfold.  Detailed and like braille do you then trace.
 For my bud there under will you bequeath. At it's core, sticky and sweet does it reside. For you alone, the gift of my sweet white Lily

by Pandora



Dramatic close up of white Calla Lily on dark background by Flavia Brilli


Close up of two beautiful Calla Lillies by Flavia Brilli


Close up of beautiful white Calla Lily by Flavia Brilli
Calla Lily~a true sculptural beauty; it beguiles me every year. Soon as it appears in my garden, I am reminded of the great photographer Mapplethorpe whose beautiful photos of this flower are iconic. Photo by Flavia Brilli


Mythology


A symbol of purity. According to ancient Greek mythology, the lily flower was created from the breast milk of Hera, the Greek Goddess of Love and Marriage and the wife of Zeus.  However, Roman legend has it that when goddess of love, Venus, rose from the sea and saw the lily flower she was so consumed with jealousy of its beauty and purity that she caused an ugly pistil to grow from the flower's center. 

Below, the first picture of a lily which appeared in Crete around 1580 BC.

The minoan "fresco of the Lilies", found in Amnisos. Now exhibited in the Heraklion Archaelogical Museum.



All images and words © 2018 Flavia Brilli.



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The Rose

Close up of yellow rose 'Golden Showers' at dusk by Flavia Brilli



Spring time has arrived,
now she showers golden

Nivedita Patnaik



Enjoying my roses in my garden. Flavia Brilli




Close up of Yellow Rose with Raindrops by Flavia Brilli


Yellow Rose 'Golden Showers' by Flavia Brilli


Rose: from the Latin 'Rosa'; and linked to the Greek 'Rhodon'. Like showers of golden suns, these yellow blooms shine bright and brilliant in the summer sun. And, then, as dusk draws its shroud upon my garden, they slowly withdraw into the dying light like fading stars. 


Close up of yellow rose 'Golden Showers' in garden
Roses at dusk in my garden by Flavia Brilli

Greek Mythology


In Greek mythology, the rose was created by the goddess of flowers, Chloris. One day, she found the lifeless body of a nymph in the woods and transformed her into a flower. She then called upon Aphrodite, goddess of love, and Dionysus, the god of wine. Aphrodite gave the flower beauty as her gift and Dionysus added nectar to give it a sweet fragrance. Zephyrus, god of the West Wind, blew the clouds away so Apollo, the sun god, could shine and make the flower bloom. That is how the rose was created and rightfully crowned "Queen of Flowers"


Chloris: a Nymph. She represented spring, flowers and new growth.  Her Roman equivalent was the goddess Flora.


Roman Mythology



The Romans made the rose a symbol of beauty and love. And in Roman mythology, the son of Venus (Cupid) was stung by a bee while shooting arrows into a garden full of roses.  When Venus was walking in the garden, she pricked her foot on a thorn left by her son. It turned the roses red. During the domination of the Roman Empire, roses were also a symbol of vanity. Roman Emperors often smothered their guests in rose petals during their dinners and orgies.


Cupid shooting arrows into a garden of roses

Venus Vericordia by Dante Rossetti (1866)
Shown here by Dante with a background of roses symbolising beauty and love


The Roses of Heliogabalus by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema
The Roses of Heliogabalus by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

The Roses of Heliogabalus

Depicting the young emperor Elagabalus hosting a banquet. The painting shows a group of Roman guests at a banquet, being swamped by drifts of pink rose petals falling from a false ceiling above.The youthful Roman emperor Elagabalus wearing a golden silk robe and tiara, watches the spectacle from a platform behind them with other garlanded guests.

CLEOPATRA


Cleopatra VII, inspired by the mythical origins of roses, used their petals during public appearances. She wanted to be remembered as a goddess who smelled like roses.


ROSE COLOURS




Red Roses: True Love

Yellow Roses: Friendship

Yellow roses represent friendship, joy and caring. These beautiful sun-colored roses can convey warmth, delight, gladness and affection, as well as say good luck, welcome back, and remember me.

White Roses: Purity and innocence

Orange Roses: Passion


London Bridge Climbing Rose by Flavia Brilli




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JASMINE

Flavia Brilli with backdrop of jasmine in her garden on Kotor Bay


What could be nicer than to while away a summer's day in a garden of jasmine: 'a flower so appealing to the senses and eyes-...'a fragrance so sweet, beautiful..'


Jasmine covered wall of my stone house on Kotor Bay 
Jasmine: from the Persian word 'yasameen', meaning 'a gift from God'; revered by ancient civilisations  for its healing powers, its aphrodisiac qualities and prolific, star-like beauty. 

In the garden at night she fills the balmy summer air with her exotic scent like an odalisque fills her boudoir with her seductive perfume.

That come hither scent which evokes exotic Persian nights and Tuscan gardens, and can conquer the hearts of even the most reluctant romantics at nightfall.





Throughout the years, jasmine's mystical healing powers and seductive beauty has spawned myths and legends that have spanned continents.


And so let us begin our journey in Italy with the tale of a gardener, his lover and a Grand Duke...

Marriage, Flowers and Fortunes
THE GRAND DUKE OF TUSCANY 


Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

In 1699, The Grand Duke of Tuscany was given a beautiful gift of Jasmine called Goa Jasione.

The beauty and fragrance of this rare variety was such that the Duke forbid his gardener to part with any cutting from the flower. However, the gardener was in love and cut some sprays of the Duke's jasmine to make a little posy for his lover.

The gardener's lover was so enamoured of the jasmine's perfume and beauty she planted a sprig from the posy in her garden. To her surprise the sprig grew into a plant.

Such was her success from raising a plant from this cutting that she was able to grow many more plants and sell them.This enabled her to marry her gardener.



And so the Tuscans thereafter said:
'She who is worthy to wear the jasmine wreath is worth a fortune to her husband'




Love, Sex and Sensuality
THE PERFUME OF LOVE

'Jasmine .....................the passionate seductress, gentle and charismatic, 
bewitching all those who come into her presence.' 

 Valerie Worwood

A Girl Defending Herself against Eros, by William Adolphe Bouguereau


In India, the myth of Cupid and Eros is represented in the stories about Kama Deva, the Hindu god of love. 

A youthful, handsome man, Kama is a often depicted on a chariot drawn by parrots or love birds carrying a bow and arrows. His bow is made of a sugar cane stalk. 


His arrows are tipped with a specific fragrant flower which causes the victim to be “lovestruck”One of these arrows is tipped with jasmine. 

Kamadeva shooting his love-arrow at Shiva




Kama deva, Hindu god of love, riding his parrot chariot with jasmine tipped arrow



Jasmine's erotic properties have long been understood and revered by Eastern and European cultures across the world. Used for centuries in the perfume industry it is often referred to as the King of Essences and forms the base of nearly all perfumes. Its relaxing properties and ability to melt emotional barriers has earned it its reputation as the essence that promotes intimacy. And in Hindu and Muslim traditions is revered as 'the perfume of love'. 


My Garden of Jasmine


My garden on Kotor Bay
My garden on Kotor Bay

In early May, when the temperature rises, and the promise of summer is in the air, my jasmine opens its beautiful star-like flowers and fills the garden with heavenly scent. 

Over my gate, along my front wall and dripping from my garden pergola, tiny, perfect white jasmine flowers glitter in the sunlight, and smother the garden in their fairytale whiteness. 


Jasmine covered pergola and gate in my garden on Kotor Bay. Flavia Brilli.
Jasmine covered pergola and gate in my garden on Kotor Bay. 



Jasmine dripping from the pergola in my garden in May

Front wall of home on Kotor Bay with Jasmine in full bloom
Front wall of my home on Kotor Bay with Jasmine in full bloom
m

In a garden,
As beautiful as heaven,
At night Jasmine,
With white silky lips,
Unfolded its perfumed petals,
Blossoms in ethereal beauty,
With a creamy glow.

By Salmabanu Hatim

from his poem 'Jasmine and Rose'


All images and words © 2018 Flavia Brilli.



Copyright Notice

All images/articles contained on this site are subject to UK and European copyright Laws and remain the property of the photographer/author, Flavia Brilli, at all times.

A selection of images on this website may be purchased through this blog's 
PRINTS FOR SALE PAGE .