Have you guys heard about, what they call the “Super Bloom” happening in Southern California?
According to National Geographic, a super bloom “is a colloquial term used to define an explosion of wildflowers that exceeds typical spring blooms.”
This phenomena likely occurred because of SoCal’s unusually rainy fall and winter, followed by cold temperatures, which “locked more moisture into the ground.”
It is said,
This “explosion of wildflowers” in California deserts is so intense, BBC reports, that it can actually be seen from outer space.
Isn’t that amazing? Can you imagine setting foot there? They say that this Super Bloom is drawing a massive amount of butterflies and “Disneyland-sized crowds”.
In honor of Spring, and because this morning my heart felt a little heavy, I thought I’d do a little google “study” on flowers to focus on the bright side, to focus on what the Lord is doing, and wanting to do within the hearts of His children, in spite of all the crisis and battle that is constantly surrounding us…
According to Better Homes and Gardens, “Good soil preparation is the single most important thing you can do for your flowers.”
And isn’t this tip from Better Homes and Gardens interesting,
“Weed out bad influences when plants are young. The kind of friends your flowers hang around with at this stage of rapid growth will
influence how straight and sturdy they are as adults. Weeds rob your seedlings of nutrients and water and make them look bad. When a good flower garden goes bad, you can often blame the influence of the flowers’ weedy companions. Take an authoritative stand and stay in control; set limits, and spend some quality time pulling weeds.”
According to google, and a greenhouse website called, Island Rose, here are basic qualities that are expected in a healthy flower. I loved reading through these…
Freshness – A flower that looks attractive and smells good are generally considered fresh.
Luster –Flowers of high quality have a shine on them which brighten the room or the place where they are kept. Petals that are dull, spotted or drooping can easily be marked and noticed. Flowers that have lustrous stems, petals and leaves are the best in terms of quality and last longer. Luster is maintained by proper fertilization and post harvest care of the flowers.
Vibrancy – It is said that vibrant flowers are have firm buds and stems. These flowers can be noted for their sparkle and overall appearance. Flowers which are dull, lethargic and drooping are said to be poor in quality. Vibrant flowers will liven up the atmosphere of the room they are placed in. Vibrancy is maintained through consistent quality control through planting, harvesting, and post harvest handling.
Clean Buds, Leaves, and Stems – A typical greenhouse grown flower would have clean leaves without any marks on them. The leaves of the flowers also need to have some shine so that they can be used as a part of the flower decoration without spoiling the beauty of the flower arrangement.
Strong Stems – The bending of the stem below the neck of the flower leads to wilting and failure of the flower to open, hence while choosing flowers you must make sure that the stem is strong and durable and not likely to break easily. Green, lustrous stem is another sign of good quality of flowers.
“You’ve got to be one that, wherever you are, like a flower, you’ve got to blossom where you’re planted. You cannot eliminate darkness. You cannot banish it by cursing darkness. The only way to get rid of darkness is light and to be the light yourself.” -Cory Booker
“When the flower blossoms, the bee will come.” -Srikumar Rao
“For happiness one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair.” -Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” -Abraham Lincoln
-Heather ?