Alchemy

by Connie Handscomb

Canvas Print

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Beach Towel

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Round Beach Towel

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Weekender Tote Bag

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Title

Alchemy

Artist

Connie Handscomb

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Fine Art

Description

The goal of alchemy is to transmute whatever is heavy and leaden into something light, alive and liberating, which is why its practitioners referred to it as the 'redemption of matter'.
~ Sharon Seivert [fr. The Balancing Act]

The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.�
~ Paulo Coelho [fr. The Alchemist]

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Forsythia (Golden Bells ; Lian Qiao)

Family : Oleaceae (olive family)

One of the sure signs that springtime has arrived are the bright, happy blooms of forsythia. Forsythias are popular early spring flowering shrubs in gardens and parks. Except, perhaps, those in the city where I live ... while I see they are still being planted in other nearby cities, sadly, the Parks staff in our own have taken a dislike to them, and began systematically ripping them out a couple of years ago. These bright spots of colour in the parks that heralded our springtime, and provided homes and food for a number of small species have, as a consequence, rapidly disappeared.

Medicinally, the fruit from one species of forsythia is one of the fundamental herbs that been used by Chinese herbalists for centuries (it is still used as a cold remedy in China), and it is also popular with homeopaths. It is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and is used for abscesses and boils, and to reduce fevers.

Forsythia is named after William Forsyth (1737-1804), a former Superintendent of the Royal Gardens at Kensington Palace, and one of the original founders of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Source:
The Complete Medicinal Herbal [Penelope Brody]
Plants & Flowers [Simon & Schuster's Complete Guide; F. Perry]

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The forsythia blooms turn from golden yellow to a fresh, lime green leaf .... a natural alchemy occurs before my eyes every springtime.

Captured in natural light; unedited; uncropped .. nature in all its splendour :)