I came across these beautiful pansies last fall and just had to stop and admire them, aren't they pretty? There is a legend that if you cover someones eyes with pansies while they're asleep, the dreamer may fall in love with the first person they see when they wake. Growing up, I was an only child, and very lonely. We had a huge cement crock of pansies on either side of the front porch steps. And when I sat there with my skates and skate key, I pretended the pansies were the little faces of my friends, and I gave them different personalities. This is not as strange as it seems, because the word PANSY comes from the French word pensee, meaning "thought". This is because the flower looks like a human face, and in August it leans forward as if in deep thought. Because of this, it has long been used as the symbol for Freethought, and Freethinkers. This is a viewpoint that believes opinions should be formed only on the basis of science, logic, and reason. Kinda takes all the fun out of thinking. But whatever we think, God knows, even if we think that flowers are our friends.
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completly, O Lord."
Psalm 139:1,4
33 comments:
These are gorgeous... The violet ones looks like you have saturated the image...something like that??
They are beautiful and they really compel you to think about the beauty of nature!!
I've always loved pansies. I remember having a bunch of them growing around the house when I was a kid.
The pansies are so beautiful, the colors bright and very cheerful. I had no idea there was so much legend attached to this pretty little flower. They do appear to have sweet little faces.
Pansies to me mean SPRING... Oh that still seems like a long way away - it will be at least three more months until I can plant any pansies on my balcony... But thanks for the reminder :)
Looking at these pansies can brighten up your day, my day, our days... God is really awesome!
Ginny,
Thank you for dropping by my house and leaving such a thoughtful comment. I beleive we will all see Meg again, but the loss is overwhelming for her family. I can only pray for them and hope it is enough.
I love the pansies; a personal favorite of mine. I especially like the pink hued flower...thank you for sharing such loveliness.
So pretty and bright! We won't be seeing pansies for a few more months around here though!
Beautiful flowers, pansies. That's what Frances had me plant here in the fall as they are very hardy plants. They add beauty to life - just like thinking good thoughts. Thanks for the info about them.
They are so lovely! My mom has always said that Pansy's have the happiest faces!!
I love flowers, the beauty can be our friends! Nice Thought!
kim
they are beautiful. i love pansys and never knew the meaning of the word. yet again we are sisters, i was lonely my whole childhood until we moved to KY at age 10. until we moved back to GA when i was in the middle of the 9th grade, lonely was all i knew until i was out of highschool. i needed pansys and did not know it. i retreatd into the land of fiction in books.
Hi Ginny, Remember when I posted pictures of the Pansies in our yard??? Remember what i said they looked like???? Look at the interior .... They are little ANGELS. It's no wonder you had them as your friends... Nothing could be better than that...
Hugs,
Betsy
these flowers are so beautiful. Makes me wish it was summer already.
These Pansies just made me smile.They are fresh and bright,like a ray of sunshine from Heaven.
Blessings,Ruth
Your pansy photos make it so cheerful and happy on a gray morning here. I have loved pansies since i saw Alice in Wonderland as a child and there were pansies with faces. A coloring book someone gave me later with those pansy faces was a prized possession. I still love them but have no luck growing them. I just enjoy everyone else's. Like Sandra I first retreated into the world of books as a child. Mine was a happy childhood with loads of cousins. But for various reasons, I just felt I never measured up. Your verse today reminds me of the week in 3rd grade when I realized that I could never "measure up" on my own. At that age I realized that there was a hole in me that only God could heal. The road has not always been pansies since then. I had and have a lot of growing to do. But when I peel everything away, I can hold fast, give thanks and rejoice in the fact that only God can give me complete, unconditional acceptance and intimacy of spirit. Thanks for the reminder.
Sorry this is so long, but one more thing: The soda fountain drug store is 5 minutes from our home, 7 to 10 in traffic.
These are beautiful pansies. Thanks for sharing them. We have pansies planted in some of our flower beds, but they are still buried by the snow. Hopefully they will soon pop through, and if we get some warmer weather, we may even see some blossoms.
Pansies are my favorite next to Violets! I think that is so sweet that you pretended they were your friends. I don't find that unusual at all! Pansies persevere and will bloom through snow, freezing temps and whatever. They are the brightest spot in my yard these winter days of brown grass and stark winter light. Great Post as always. Hugs, Kerrie
These adorable pansies tend to welcome spring around here - they are among the first to poke through! Beautiful photos Ginny! Loved the story behind their names. In German these flowers are called Stiefmuetterchen, which means step-mothers! Don't ask me why - may google it later just to satisfy my curiosity!
Ginny, your photos are gorgeous! I've always felt that way about pansies ...a cheerful face smiling at me!:) But never read about the story behind these pretty blooms. Interesting!
what a delightful legend ...
That wonderful splash of color was most welcome on this gray day. They are such a sweet old-fashioned flower and you just can't help but love them. I hope you have a wonderful day, Ginny. Blessings...Mary
I didn't know you were an only child. I may as well of been, as I was the youngest- although I had interaction..only my two oldest sisters as well as brothers were on the way out- as I was basically moving up. Anyway..loved your pansy story..so simple but engaging! I love skating! Tell me, did you have any animals? I love Pansies but have never bothered to grow any..the yellow and purple are my favorite color combo- enjoyed the verse too..
I didn't know you were an only child. I may as well of been, as I was the youngest- although I had interaction..only my two oldest sisters as well as brothers were on the way out- as I was basically moving up. Anyway..loved your pansy story..so simple but engaging..and a human face! I love skating! Tell me, did you have any animals? I love Pansies but have never bothered to grow any..the yellow and purple are my favorite color combo- enjoyed the verse too..
Such a cheerful collection
and all in brilliant condition
You crack me up: "kinda takes all the fun out of thinking" that was a good one...I agree!
I grew up an only child and had to nurture and develop a vivid imagination and my mind was always churning.
I loved your story about the pansies. One of my neighbors here plants them all over the place... they do look very friendly. I must crochet one...I've never tried that!
Have a blessed Sunday!
Hi Ginny, I adore Pansies! I also like Violas a lot. We have another thing in common with one another - I am an only child also. Have a super rest of the day!
Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing! We have a lot of those on Remington Drive....they are one strong flower!
Beautiful flowers :)
I did not know all these facts about pansys, Ginny. Very interesting! I always thought they looked like smiling faces.
Oh how nice to see these pansies. They are my favourite flower bringing back childhood memories of mornings with dew on the grass and pansies in the yard.
Gorgeous and what a tease - would love to see them now - they are hearty in the winter here - but I think the ice got them. sandie
Here in NZ, pansies have a not so nice meaning.
When your husband flies the model planes, Ihope you don;t have to look for it. LOL
My pansies haven't fared too well this year with the cold and the snow. They like the cold but this is ridiculous.
Post a Comment