May Flowers: The Lupine on Day 151 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!
May 31, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The LUPINE… both an ornamental garden plant and wild one too, the Lupine has an interesting name origin. Lupine derives from the Latin lupinis or lupinum, meaning to have the nature of a wolf. The Lupine has been called the wolf bean because wolves consume them, but the wolf reference may also come from the [...]
May Flowers: The Iris on Day 150 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!
May 31, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The IRIS… in Greek mythology, Iris is the goddess who acts as a messenger of the Gods, appearing to mortals in the form of a rainbow. The Iris’s wide spectrum of colors lends itself perfectly to its namesake. The Iris symbolizes great faith, wisdom, hope, love and cherished friendship. Poets, kings and artists have been [...]
May Flowers: The Daisy on Day 149 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!
May 29, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The DAISY… some derivatives of the Daisy are Dayes-eze, Daysie, Dayesye and the total giveaway to the Daisy’s meaning, Days-eye. Days-eye means, simply, day’s eye or eye of the day, in allusion to the appearance of the yellow center disc in the morning and the closing of the rays in the evening. The Daisy is [...]
May Flowers: The Marigold on Day 148 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!
May 28, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The MARIGOLD… with reference to Mary, the Virgin Mother, the English derivative of Marigold is a combination of Mary + Gold (for the Marigold’s golden/yellow color) and is known as Mary’s Flower. Its association with the Virgin Mary has made the Marigold a flower of good blessings, often used in weddings, festivals and religious celebrations. [...]
May Flowers: The Geranium on Day 147 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!
May 27, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The GERANIUM… derived from the Greek word geranós, meaning crane, the Geranium’s fruit capsule is thought to resemble a crane’s bill. It’s been noted that the Geranium’s fruit is comprised of 5 grains and beaked. The Geranium has lots of interesting nicknames, including Pinke Needle and Stork’s Bill along with the more common Crane’s Bill. [...]
May Flowers: The Viola on Day 146 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!
May 26, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The VIOLA… delicately heart-shaped and beautifully colored in yellows, whites, blues, lavenders, creams and glorious bi-colors, the Viola is more than just a lovely face. The Viola has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, in the production of herbal teas, as a source of perfume, for garnishing salads and desserts, and for crystallizing for [...]
May Flowers: The Lobelia on Day 145 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!
May 25, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The LOBELIA enirus… with its masses of lovely, delicate fan-shaped flowers, it is almost impossible to believe that the Lobelia species is known for its ill will and malevolence. How can this be? The common herb Lobelia inflata, with its similarities to nicotine, make any internal use very dangerous. Children, pregnant women and people with [...]
May Flowers: The Dianthus on Day 144 of 365 Days Literacy for Kids!
May 24, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The DIANTHUS… the name derived from the Greek word for Jupiter Flower, or Flower of the Gods, the Dianthus is commonly known to gardeners as the species of Sweet William, Maiden Pink, Pinks or Carnation, although there are more than 300 species in the Dianthus genus. The Dianthus is a delightful and welcomed flower in [...]
May Flowers: The Strawberry Blossom on Day 143 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!
May 23, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The STRAWBERRY BLOSSOM… each Strawberry comes from a lovely Strawberry Blossom, and the process from bloom-to-berry is like a tiny little miracle. Strawberry Blossoms are not all identical, but they are similar. Most are 5-8 petaled and white… but hybrid Strawberry Blossoms may be pink or other colors, too. The main business of the [...]
May Flowers: The Blueberry Blossom on Day 142 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kid!
May 22, 2011 by Sharon
Filed under MAY FLOWERS, Sharon
The BLUEBERRY BLOSSOM… before the Blueberry becomes a berry, it first is a Blueberry Blossom. Delicately bell-shaped, the Blueberry Blossom is primarily white, but can be pinkish or even tinted green. The Blossom of the Blueberry is held in high esteem in the world of folklore. In Native American tradition, the Blueberry Blossom, shaped as [...]
