DIANE'S CORNER ..
Celebrate Plant a Flower Day
Few things on the planet are more beautiful or fascinating than flowers – and with over 400,000 flowering plant species in the world, there’s definitely something out there for everyone!
From the simple daisy to the elegant rose, from the colorful wildflowers dotting hillsides to the elaborate and vibrant blooms of southeastern Asia, flowers have more than deserved their own day of celebration for their contributions to nature, culture, and life.
History of Plant a Flower Day
Flowers have been around for at least 150 million years, with new and captivating species springing up all over the place during that time. And they have long been a staple in various cultures all around the world, serving numerous purposes over the millennia including decorative and medicinal ones.
As early as 2,500 BC, the Ancient Egyptians were using flowers to adorn tables and great halls, as well as show respect to both the living and the dead, with the remains of many kinds of flowers uncovered in the tombs of pharaohs, high priests and other wealthy citizens. Later, both the Ancient Greeks and Romans continued to use flowers for these same purposes and also began to use some of them as herbs. This tradition continues today through herbal teas, medicines and spices.
Throughout history, flowers have carried different symbolic meanings, including in various religions and mythologies. In Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, the lotus flower is considered an important spiritual symbol, while roses have long been seen as a display of love and affection and poppies are used to commemorate soldiers who have died in war.
Flowers have also been an integral part of our traditions and rituals. Could you imagine a wedding reception without the bouquet toss or a Christmas without poinsettias? And what would poets and painters do without the flowers that have inspired them to create countless works of art such as Van Gogh’s sunflowers, Monet’s water lilies or Blake’s ‘Auguries of Innocence’?
These blossoming plants even have influence over the economy. In 17th century Holland during a period known as ‘tulip mania’, tulips were considered to be so valuable that they were worth more than gold and a mere ten bulbs could be used to purchase a whole house! And to this day the world’s most expensive spice is saffron, which is made using dried crocuses.
Perhaps most valuable of all, however, is the role that flowers play in the natural world. With their bright colors and enchanting scents, they not only brighten up the world around us but also attract and sustain pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds, enticing them with sweet nectar and having their precious pollen distributed in return. And once they’ve reproduced, flowers bear sweet fruit that animals and humans alike can enjoy.
Flowers play a crucial role in sustaining ecosystems, producing food and enriching human life and culture. By celebrating Plant a Flower Day you’ll be helping these bountiful blossoms to flourish.
Joke of the Day
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers.
In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.'
Word of the Day
enunciatory
MEANING:adjective: Announcing; declaring; pronouncing.
ETYMOLOGY:From Latin ex- (out) + nuntiare (to announce). Ultimately from the Indo-European root neu- (to shout), which also gave us announce, denounce, pronounce, renounce, and pronunciamento. Earliest documented use: 1693.
USAGE:“‘You know, they say there are as many different Hamlets as there are actors to play him,’ says Walken, asked to consider the issue of his trademark enunciatory style.”
Steven Rea; Many Mimics, But No One Delivers a Line Like Walken; Philadelphia Inquirer (Pennsylvania); Feb 3, 2013.
Steven Rea; Many Mimics, But No One Delivers a Line Like Walken; Philadelphia Inquirer (Pennsylvania); Feb 3, 2013.
Idiom of the Day
What does 'At a snail's pace' mean?
If something moves at a snail's pace, it moves very slowly.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, March 12
No matter what your age, you always remain youthful and playful. You are open to a wide range of ideas, and you have a real sense of the right words to say or write and the best way to present an idea. You would be excellent at promotion or advertising, and also make a warm and interesting friend who always seems to lend a hand or lift others' spirits with words of encouragement. At times impatient with others, your warm heart wins in the end. Famous people born today:
Pictures of the Day
Boston
knit
thanks, Sheri
Nautilo
knit
thanks, Sally
Bamboo Stems Scarf pattern by Vikki Perkins
knit
knit
Icordion Cowl pattern by Louise Fitzpatrick
crochet
crochet
crochet
Quarantine Cooking Recipes
VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE
Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.
SWEETS .. St. Patrick's Day
COOKBOOK FRIDAY
ADULT COLORING .. St. Patrick's Day
Some signs make no sense!
On a bathroom door: "Toilet out of order. Please use floor below."
In a laundromat: "Automatic washing machines: please remove all your clothes when the light goes out."
CRAFTS
WORD SEARCH
agreement amass blood bolt boos breeze brick bright | carat cliff contact crave danger decent dictionary | float free fright fugitive gavel given happy heed hoarse | large lava meet nook office perform process | refuge remit river sorry total transmit trout tryst yield |
SUDOKU .. very hard
solution:
What’s A Funny (Appropriate) Pick-Up Line That Works For You?
QUOTE
There comes a time in every adult's life when you watch little kids race up a staircase on their knees and think: Ouch. Kneeling for long periods causes discomfort that can plague you for days.
Keep sheets of bubble wrap on hand for just those times. When you're pulling weeds in the garden, dusting low shelves or painting baseboards, kneeling on the bubble wrap should provide some much-needed cushioning.
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