Thursday's Tale: Certain Central Park Tulips Now Have a Georgia O'Keefe Look

This is the first year that I do not have tulips in my garden as I was not able to plant new bulbs in 2020 because of the pandemic. In general, my tulip bulbs don't winter-over well even with my diligent garden winterizing. I truly miss having them this year but memories of my tulips sustain me. I have had such amazing varieties during the many years of my having a garden. Be that as it may when it comes to not having tulips in my garden this year, I have been able to appreciate them in tree pits as well as in Central Park. The tulip seen in the photo atop this entry is one I saw there five days ago.

It's Iris Day!

I've just learned that today is Iris Day. Therefore, I am including a copy (posted directly above) of Vincent van Gough's painting, Irises, which can always be seen at The Metropolitan Art Museum in NYC.

Wiki states that "Van Gogh started painting irises within a week of entering the asylum, in May 1889, working from nature in the hospital garden... He called painting 'the lightning conductor for my illness,' because he felt that he could keep himself from going insane by continuing to paint."

American Meadows points out that "because of the great elegance of the iris bloom, it has been the symbol of monarchs and royal families throughout history. In fact, one of the earliest known artworks of an iris is a fresco in King Minos' palace on the Greek Island of Crete. The palace dates from 2100 BC."

The aforementioned source also claim that in addition to van Gough, "the iris has probably second place (they claim the first is the rose) as the favored flower in great art... irises appear in paintings by Leonardo daVinci, Durer, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, and Claude Monet."

However, another painter, Georgia O'Keeffe who often used flowers (including irises) as her subject, did not see flowers as a "lightning conductor," rather she supposedly once said, "I hate flowers - I paint them because they're cheaper than models and they don't move."

In any event, regarding information pertaining to Iris Day itself, a number of sources, including Holiday Insights, proclaim that this occasion is always observed on May 8th. Another web-page suggests that "the celebration of Iris Day might have Japanese roots because this flower has spiritual meaning in Japan. It is a symbol for creativity, great power and good news to come." 

Upon learning this, I am tempted to go to my local bodega (they sell flowers in bunches) and stare at their irises (since I don't have them in my garden), so I can reflect on their symbol of "creativity, great power and good news to come." 

"If it's Tuesday, it must be tumblr . . . " Week No. 34 (To Enter OR Not to Enter That IS the Question)

Last Wednesday, I attended an art show of someone who had been one of my teachers when I took classes at Apple's Upper Westside Store. She suggested that I submit certain images that I've taken (re the flowers in my garden) to a photographic competition honoring Georgia O'Keeffe, the prolific painter of flowers.

Although I have many images of flowers on my Pinterest Boards, I have also featured flower photo-ops here on Blogger, as well as in my entries on TLLG's Facebook Page, and tumblr posts, my former instructor's suggestion prompted me to view the flowers that are still remaining (it's fall so the number of flowers dwindles) in my urban (NYC) garden in a different manner, as evidenced by the image posted above, which I took this past weekend. This image features the very expressive Black and Blue Salvia which is still thriving in my garden.

While I'm flattered about the recommendation of my former instructor, I am not sure if I will enter the competition, as the entry fee is out of my reach momentarily, but I will see what happens as the deadline to enter it approaches.

In the meantime, since it's Tuesday, it means it must be tumblr in "TLLG Land," so, without further ado, the link to take you there can be found by clicking here.