Enchantment #1
by Connie Handscomb
Title
Enchantment #1
Artist
Connie Handscomb
Medium
Photograph - Photography - Fine Art
Description
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Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.
~ Gerard de Nerval (1808-1855), France
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Blue Columbine : Granny's bonnets
(Aquilegia vulgaris; Aquilegia caerulea; Aquilegia canandensis)
Aquilegia fr. Latin 'aquilia' = Eagle (its appendages look like talons)
Columbine fr. Latin columba = dove or pigeon
Family = Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
This perennial wildflower often seen throughout Europe, in the Rocky Mountains, in moist woodlands, and in the province in Canada I live in happens to be the state flower of Colorado. Colours range from violets and blues, maroons, to pinks and, occasionally, white.
Like many plants - wildflower and otherwise - it is poisonous, but since it is named 'vulgaris', I knew it would have medicinal qualities and looking through my library, I found that: in times past, the leaves were used in lotions for sore mouths and throats; the Spaniards ate pieces of the root in the mornings to deal with kidney stones; the indigenous Americans used minute amounts of its crushed seeds for headaches, and fevers (the seeds were also rubbed into hair to control lice) and also chewed the root for stomach ailments. Native Americans also ate the sweet flowers as a condiment with greens but were careful not to eat the seeds or roots which are highly poisonous.
Symbolically, it has several meanings. Since the flower resembles a jester's cap, it means Folly. The spurs on the flower were said to look like the Virgin Mary's shoes, and the flowers would spring up where she walked, thus: innocence. The Purple Columbine means a determination to win. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia presents the flower to mean faithlessness.
Sources:
The Romantic Language Of Flowers
Wildflowers [R.Imes]
The Wild Flowers Book [E. Tomanova]
Culpeper's Color Herbal [Ed. D. Potterton]
Peterson Field Guide: Medicinal Plants and Herbs, E. and Central N. Amer [Foster;Duke]
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Taken in natural light ; Undedited; Uncropped, : Nature in all its natural splendour.
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♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA groups for featuring this image :
Beautiful Flowers
The Artistic Forager
Macro Photography
Flower Mania
10 Plus
Flowers Up Close
Visions Of Spring
Fine Arts Professionals
Wild Flowers
Uploaded
April 30th, 2015
Statistics
Viewed 554 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/22/2024 at 10:20 AM
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Comments (37)
Vali Irina Ciobanu
wow,I love this image!! l/f
Connie Handscomb replied:
Hello! a pleasure to see you this fine day ... my very many thanks to you! ;))
Connie Handscomb
Jacqueline, just making my way through my backlog; thank you! for featuring this image in Flowers Up Close :))
Jacqueline Athmann
Surprise & Congratulations!! Your photo has been featured on Flowers Up Close group homepage! Thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us! F/L
Connie Handscomb replied:
It was a Lovely Surprise, Jacqueline! .. & as usual .. I am late in my thank you's; I truly do appreciate your kind support. Hope you are enjoying the warm days now :))
Glenn DiPaola
The light and contrasting tones jump out of the frame. Again with this one, the curves make it flow. Beautifully done. v/f
Connie Handscomb
Thank you so much, Alexandria! for featuring this image in The Artistic Forager ;))
Nick Boren
I'm very enchanted by your beautiful image dear Connie... I love the soft focus you gave it. :-) FV
Connie Handscomb replied:
And I'm very sorry I am only responding to you now .. you are deserving of better, my friend {having said that, I doubt much will change on my part! Lol... my life in the fast lane}; thank you always for being so kind & supportive, Nick! :))
Reynold Jay
I agree with Bruce that this one deserves an award, Connie. Flowers are delicate and special. You have brought that out in this one. Well done.
Connie Handscomb replied:
Reynold, did he {Bruce} say that? Lol.. you are wonderful with your words, so much appreciate your kindness & visits here :))
Connie Handscomb
Hi Bruce! I'm way behind on my 'catching up' ... must thank you for being wonderfully kind & featuring this image in Beautiful Flowers! have a really lovely week .. :))
Teresa Pople
Beautiful Connie . .x
Connie Handscomb replied:
Hello to you, Teresa, & thank you so very much; I hope you are enjoying your summertime on the other side of the pond :))