Little Bonnets
by Connie Handscomb
Title
Little Bonnets
Artist
Connie Handscomb
Medium
Photograph - Photography - Fine Art
Description
Imagination is a very high sort of seeing.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Lily of the Valley (Our Lady's Tears; Fairy's Bells; May lilies)
Convallaria majalis
Family : Liliaceae
This wildflower is native to European and North American woodlands (and temperate Asia) which, legends have it, grows where St. Leonard's blood was spilled during a fight with a dragon and where the Virgin Mary shed her tears.
It is popular in bridal bouquets. Brides became familiar with it during the Middle Ages, when it was used as a symbol of modesty and purity.Highly fragrant, it was much used by parfumiers.
During the Middle Ages the Elizabethan physician Gerard used it medicinally. His recipe for pain and gout: Put the flowers of May lilies into a glass and set it in a hill of ants, firmly closed for 1 month. After which you will find a liquor that when applied appeaseth the pain and grief of gout.
Leaves were used to bind cuts, and were also infused in boiling water, wrapped in muslin & used as a poultice. The flowers, when distilled in water or brandy, were used for fainting, headaches or hysteria. Ancient Greeks used it for heart conditions and dropsy; modern science would claims this to the plant's glycosides and it is apparently better tolerated than foxglove. After WW II, the aftereffects of poison gas were treated with it. Like the foxglove, it is also used in treating heart disease, although it is claimed the lily of the valley is safer to use.
Sources:
Hatfield's Herbal [G. Hatfield]
Jekka's Complete Herb Book [J. McVicar]
Clay Perry's Fantastic Flowers [Text M.Perry]
A Flower-Lover's Miscellany [D.Barraclough]
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I see little bonnets here, wee white caps poking through the green vegetation. I see that spring has truly arrived .... (and that is not my imagination) ...:)
What I don't see any more: my own lily of the valley, which I accidentally removed when I passed along my peony to a friend.
Captured in natural light; unedited; uncropped ... nature in all its splendour ....
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♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA groups for featuring this image :
Flower Mania
Macro Marvels
Macro Photography
Uploaded
April 1st, 2016
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Viewed 263 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/17/2024 at 9:31 AM
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Comments (18)
I'ina Van Lawick
Lovely composition and processing to bring out the delicate blooms of this flower. One of my favorite childhood flowers for its scent and beauty. lf
Connie Handscomb replied:
Thank you, I’ina {no processing }; I , too, love these springtime beauties ; we have many growing wild here ;) 🍃
RC DeWinter
One of my favorite flowers. I have a tattoo of lily of the valley in fact. So romantic.
Connie Handscomb replied:
So cool, RC {the tattoo}! I love these tiny blooms - a wonderful, delicate fragrance ; I have another in my Black & White Gallery that is much more intense, dramatic... Have a wonderful weekend!;))
Dianne Cowen
Simple elegance...lovely work, Connie :)
Connie Handscomb replied:
Wow, Dianne.. I just found your comment; thank you! Hope all is ok your way .. :)
P J Lewis
Your florals are fabulous, Connie. After enjoying your bio. story, I'd like to see some of your fine art, too! I'll bet it's wonderful, as well!
Connie Handscomb replied:
You're so kind; I think the photography is a more instant gratification for me. I didn't stay in the fine arts program long enough to become really Fine at it ... I switched majors ... & then,Life moved me in another direction. I'll be tweaking my bio (one day ... time flies by so fast!) I'll be mentioning that when I modify it. Hopefully I'll be able to splash around with the paints more in the future. Thank you so very much! :))
LHJB Photography
Little beauties perfectly captured by you Connie!
Connie Handscomb replied:
Late late thanks to you, dear Heidi! ; glad you like these springtime blooms :))
Viktoriya Sirris
This is my favorite beauty! I do not know anyone who can take the same photos as you do. Beautiful, excellent, unbeatable!!!
Connie Handscomb replied:
Your compliment will send me to bed tonight {now.. very late, must rest} ... with a huge smile, thankyou, Viktoriya! :))
Deyanira Harris
Wonderful capture dear Connie!! Love this Image!! Have a great week my friend!! :-) lfv
Jerry Bokowski
These are just gorgeous, Connie. Your informative description always enhances our appreciation for what we're seeing. A great example for all FAA members so that viewers get to know so much more about the artist that captured the image as well as what we're experiencing looking at it!......... Fav / like
Connie Handscomb replied:
Hi Jerry! thank you so much! (I just added a bit... I don't have my own any more!; passed them on by accident... I will have to plant more). A black & white edition will be up some time in the future .. :))