Meltdown

by Connie Handscomb

Canvas Print

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Title

Meltdown

Artist

Connie Handscomb

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Fine Art

Description

Rule Number 1: Don't sweat the small stuff ;
Rule Number 2: It's all small stuff.
~ Robert S. Eliot

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Cyclamen (Persian Violet; Sowbread)

Family : Primulaceae

Cyclamens grow from tubers (the corms were fed to pigs to enhance the flavour of the pork,hence this pretty flower has the rather unfortunate nickname Sowbread). Different blooms vary with the seasons.The petals can be red, pink, white, or fuchsia; the leaves a contrasting green, white and purplish colour. When the petals spiral up and open over the plant, they look like they are standing in a strong wind (or a ballerina in a tutu).

While it prefers cooler temperatures, at least 17 species grows as a wildflower in the warm Mediterranean, east to Iran and Russia, and in Europe from France through to Yugoslavia, preferring the deciduous mountain forests. Cultivation of this plant began in the 1890's, although the
pot plants are not as hardy (most potted plants originate from Syria).

Medicinally, it has been used for centuries. The Greeks used it to heal wounds. During the Renaissance, it was used for earaches. Homeopaths make tinctures from the tubers to cleanse the bowels.

This plant was popular, and plundered; its natural population severely dwindled so that today many species (such as the European Purple Sowbread - Cyclamen purpurascens) are protected by law in many European countries.

It has been said that if you place a cyclamen next to your bed, you will be assured a good night's rest : it will chase away bad dreams, protect you from negative influences, and release pain you might have from your past. It was even believed they could ward off bad weather. Symbolically, the cyclamen can mean diffidence or resignation.

Sources:
The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Magical Plants [S. Gregg]
Wildflowers Of The World [Everard; Morley]
The Wild Flowers Book [E. Tomanova]
Clay Perry's Fantastic Flowers [Text M. Perry]
The Romantic Language Of Flowers [Davies;Saunders]

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I find the gentle swirling petals of the cyclamen make it a calming floral. They seem much at pece with themselves. In this busy, fast-paced world we live in, sometimes its good just to slow down ... & gaze upon the cyclamen ....

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

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♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to Global Flowers Photography for featuring this image