A lone white iris braves herself against a sea of red of azaleas

During the high of azalea blossom in our garden, we found a lone white iris braved and braced herself against a sea of red from the azaleas.  Now the azaleas have since faded away and the white iris still exudes her charm, even though she herself has seen her best days, but 風韻猶存.

The unknown “Purple Flower” in our garden and in Emily Dickinson’s garden/poem

Among the blooming purple irises in our garden we found another purple flower, name of which is unknown to Katy (and of course, to me)—see photos—then I found Emily Dickinson also wrote about a “Purple Flower”, which she didn’t name on purpose.  She wrote about many purple flowers such as iris, hyacinth, tulips, phlox, heliotrope, etc.  But, this Purple Flower is difficult to define as it represents the Immortality in this poem.

Of death I try to think like this,

The Well in which they lay us

Is but the likeness of the Brook

That menaced not to slay us,

But to invite by that Dismay

Which is the Zest of sweetness

To the same Flower Hesperian,

Decoying but to greet us —

I do remember when a Child

With bolder Playmates straying

To where a Brook that seemed a Sea

Withheld us by it’s roaring

From just a Purple Flower beyond

Until constrained to clutch it

If Doom itself were the result,

The boldest leaped, and clutched it —

Emily Dickinson’s poems are very symbolic.  In this poem the Purple Flower is the “Flower Hesperian” which derives from the Greek mythology of three nymphs who tend a blissful garden.  She alludes death as a Well, which is a Brook or a roaring Sea.  Immortality is reached after death, and “crossing the water” (of a Well or a Brook or a Sea) symbolizes reaching death in literature.  This is an allegory—a figurative narrative.  A seemingly innocent scene of a child straying beside a brook to “cross the water”, to reach immortality suggests death is commonplace, universal, and nothing to be feared about.

I labored (in body) in the garden, then labor (in mind) trying to explain what an unknown Purple Flower comes to symbolize.

What kind of irises used in making Churchill’s wreath?

I had a post using the irises from our garden to pay tribute to George Washington just like Churchill did on the New Year Day of 1942.  Katy said the kind of irises used to make the wreath is not the kind I showed in the post.  The photo of Churchill’s wreath is black and white; it is hard to see the details.  But, I usually take Katy’s words when it comes to the flowering talk.  She said it is usually either Siberian or Japanese irises that are used to make the wreath.  No need to worry, we do also have Siberian or Japanese irises in our garden (see photos).

陳姿蓉 中國 有一種說法, irises在端午節前可以防蛇,過了端午,天氣變熱,驅 蛇作用失效. 但秋天轉涼 ,又有作用. 德國人說把花浸於啤酒桶內 啤酒可放長久. 法國人把花放再酒.裡增加芬芳. 希臘用花來製造香水的固定劑. 英國人把花和衣服.一起洗 使衣服芬芳. purple Iris 代表Our lady in Mourning(悲傷的聖母) iries 代表聖神降臨.(復活節後第49天) 藍色iries代表天主之母.

陳姿蓉 法國以黃色iris (yellow flag) 作為王室的象徵 查理五世(1294-1328)是第一位把它作為旗幟圖騰的國王.

Jer-Yuan Tsai It is of interest to know that “purple Iris 代表Our lady in Mourning(悲傷的聖母)”, thank you. As I mentioned in previous post that the wreath Churchill used in George Washington’s tomb was made of irises and chrysanthemums (菊花). Chrysanthemums are symbolic of death and grief in certain countries and are often used for funerals or on grave. However, in the USA, it is often regarded as “cheerful” or “truth” and Emily Dickinson associated chrysanthemums with her sprightly younger sister. Symbolism of flowers is not an exact science; it varies from region to region

With so many flowers in the garden, where are you going to find the place for the vegetables? Dinner table!

After hearing we went shopping spree for the flowers, Janice asked “with so many flowers in the garden, where are you going to find the place for the vegetables?” The answer is “dinner table”! We’re already enjoying “Chinese cabbage tofu soup” (小白菜豆腐湯) directly from our garden.

One cannot buy the Chinese cabbage (bok choy) in the American supermarket, nor in Chinese grocery. I have been assimilated by American culture and taste; I frequented the American restaurants more often than Chinese restaurants; I guess this is so called acquired taste.

But I still miss certain food that I grew up with and not available here. Eating “Chinese cabbage tofu soup” (小白菜豆腐湯) evokes nostalgia in me for my childhood long ago far away in a small village called Xiatang (下潭).

The exotic beauty: Fuchsia is the new addition in our garden

Our garden (combination of flowers and veggies), like many others, has run-of-the-mill garden variety of flowers, such as geranium, impatien, begonia, marigold, and zinnia, etc.  But, a few exotic flowers will be needed to make it special.  Fuchsia is an exotic flower by all measures.

The name of Fuchsia itself is exotic; it is named after German botanist Leonhart Fuchs.  The color of fuchsia is named after her, and that tells a lot.  They have four long, slender, flaring, purple sepals and four shorter, broader, red petals and protruding stamens.  The colors may vary with so many hybrids.

Can you imagine how we brought this pendulous (hanging) exotic beauty home?

Emily Dickinson generally cultivated fragrant flowers in her garden; that's why we never saw orchids and azaleas in her conservatory, which were popular in her time.  But, camellias and fuchsia were exception.  I copy one of her poems here, just to show you fuchsias were indeed in her garden; she usually wrote about the flowers in her garden.  The interpretation of this poem is difficult and is not the scope of this writing. (She apparently spelled Fuchsia as Fuschzia)

I tend my flowers for thee —

Bright Absentee!

My Fuschzia’s Coral Seams

Rip — while the Sower — dreams —

Geraniums — tint — and spot —

Low Daisies — dot —

My Cactus — splits her Beard

To show her throat —

Lady's Eardrops (聖母的耳墬)

Carnations — tip their spice —

And Bees — pick up —

A Hyacinth — I hid —

Puts out a ruffled Head —

And odors fall

From flasks — so small —

You marvel how they held —

Globe Roses — break their satin flake —

Opon my garden floor —

Yet — thou — not there —

I had as life they bore

No crimson — more —

Thy flower — by gay —

Her Lord — away!

It ill becometh me —

I’ll dwell in Calyx — Gray —

How modestly — alway —

Thy Daisy —

Draped for thee!

陳姿蓉 fuchsia 又稱lady's Eardrops(聖母的耳墬) 看到聖母的耳墬子聯想到聽到天主來報喜　她將成為天主之母訊息的第一雙耳朵　聽到天主的話以後　聖母永遠銘記在心（摘自淨心園.園淨心）

Can you imagine how we brought this pendulous (hanging) exotic beauty home?

Singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic at Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia

Diane Lukas said “beautiful thoughts and deeds” on one of my posts of visiting Mt. Vernon; it was very kind of her.  While sitting on the George Washington’s family pews where Churchill, FDR, and Eleanor sat at Christ Church of Alexandria, VA on January 1, 1942, I was indeed thinking about what were on their minds then.  Buoyant and somber Churchill must be.  After standing alone for 17 months while Hitler’s Nazi overran Europe, Britain was now “in the same boat” with America (in a letter to Churchill, FDR said that right after Pearl Harbor attack, and Churchill repeated in his letter of 12/9/1941 to FDR).  After hearing the news of Pearl Harbour attack, Churchill wrote in his Memoir of the Second World War, “Being saturated and satiated with emotion and sensation, I went to bed and slept the sleep of the saved and thankful.”

FDR’s mind might be heavier: the American Navy fleet in Honolulu was almost entirely wiped out.  General MacArthur has retreated from Manila to the island of Corregidor.  FDR began to think how to save the general; he knew the army was unsavable.

On a lighter note, I was also thinking how Eleanor had to slip her husband cash for the collection plate during the service as FDR rarely had cash money with him.  I wonder whether she slipped money to Churchill.

They sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” (Churchill liked to call America “that great Republic”.)  The minister read Washington’s prayer for the United States.

This was not the first they met during the War.  FDR and Churchill first met on the Prince of Wales August 10, 1941, almost 4 months before the Pearl Harbour attack (They actually first met in London during WWI, but didn’t hit it off; we have to wait for another twenty some years before the greatest courtship of the century unfolded.)  It was said that Churchill was weeping and took a handkerchief from his pocket when they were singing the hymn of “Onward, Christian Soldiers” (Onward, Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, / With the cross of Jesus going on before. . . .)

Most of those singing and praying with Roosevelt and Churchill would soon die in 3 months.  When the First Sea Lord called Churchill notifying him that both the Prince of Wales and the Repulse have been sunk by the Japanese on their way to Singapore.  Churchill wrote, “I was thankful to be alone.  In all the war I never received a more direct shock.”

After the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse and the fall of Singapore, FDR wrote to Churchill (2/18/1942), “I want you to know that I think of you often and I know you will not hesitate to ask me if there is anything you think I can do. . . (the letter ended with) “Do let me hear from you.”

I believe the hymn of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was sung again during the memorial service for President Franklin Roosevelt at Westminster Abbey.

Taking Dr. Chung-Cheng Wang to Alexandria and Mt. Vernon rekindled my interest of writing abut FDR and Churchill—the greatest and the most beautiful friendship (call it a love story in politics if you will) of the last century.

If you approach the history the way I do, you’ll see many people and many things and not just a small church in Alexandria, VA.  And I didn’t even mention that you’ll also see the family pew of General Robert Lee, who also grew up in Alexandria and attended the service at Christ Church.

Preseting our irises to George Washington with veneration

While visiting Mt. Vernon with FDR and the First Lady (Eleanor) on 1942 New Year Day, Churchill laid a wreath of chrysanthemums and irises at George Washington’s tomb. As I said our trip to The Christ Church of Alexandria, VA and Mt. Vernon was a re-enactment of their historical trip, I paid meticulous attention to the details; carrying mentally lots of blooming irises from our garden, so that Dr. Chung-Cheng Wang (Churchill, our distinguished guest) could lay a wreath of irises at George Washington’s tomb. It is not the season for chrysanthemums (菊花) here.

It is perfect fitting for these two Comrades-in-Arms facing the menace from Hitler’s Nazi and Imperial Japan to visit “the Mecca of America” or “the Nation’s Shrine” during this trial time.

Lincoln was the American hero of David Lloyd George, who right after stepping down as the British Prime Minister, visited Lincoln’s home at Springfield, Illinois in 1923. He quoted Lincoln in his first speech as the Prime Minister, “We accepted this war [WWI] for an object, and the war will end when that object is attained.” Churchill also echoed this sentiment when England stood alone.

I visited Lincoln’s home and tomb at Springfield, Illinois in the spring of 1972 and visited Mount Vernon several times with the same reverence and admiration of David Lloyd George. I tried to instill a love for history and a sense of awe on Katy and Dr. Wang visiting the homes of the great men and heroes of our Nation.

Lincoln loved to read Washington biography growing up. From Lincoln’s writing and speech we know he tried to emulate and compare with George Washington. In his farewell speech at the railroad depot when he left Springfield for Washington, D.C. we read, “Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. . . .”

I post many photos of the blooming irises from our garden, presenting them to George Washington with veneration like Churchill did on 1942 New Year Day.

No estate in the United America is more pleasantly situated than this. — by George Washington

(This is part of the series of posts that is a re-enactment of the historical trip of FDR, Eleanor, and Churchill in the New Year Day of 1942.  Our friend, Dr. Chung-Cheng Wang, gave a brief presentation of his research finding at American Urological Association 2011 Annual Meeting at Washington, D.C. We took him to Mt. Vernon before the meeting.)

If you visit Mount Vernon—America’s First Home—you’ll understand why George Washington was so proud and uttered, “No estate in the United America is more pleasantly situated than this.”  Martha—the first First Lady—stayed behind at Mt. Vernon when Washington took the first Presidency in New York City in 1789 until an accommodation was found.  Living at the two Executive Mansions; one was in the Broadway Street, Martha would say that she felt like a prisoner waiting to be executed.

Passing through in the summer of 1760, an English traveler described, “This place is the property of Colonel Washington, and truly deserving of its owner.  The house is most beautifully situated upon a very high hill on the banks of the Potomac, and commands a noble prospect of water, of cliffs, of woods and plantations.”

The photos of panoramic view taken from the high, majestic back porch of the house captured the grandiose beauty of the authentically inspired gardens and grounds overlooking Potomac River.

We saw “Martha” (see photo) was sitting in a room talking about her life with George and at their beloved home.  Her great-granddaughter married General Robert Lee whose house was in now known as the Arlington National Cemetery when he left for Virginia to take charge of the Confederate Army.  Never did he ever return.  Diane Lukas lives 5 miles from Mt. Vernon, I guess she might have stopped by to have the afternoon tea with Martha every so often.

The picture of Katy taking with a young man and a young lady was taken in Mount Vernon in the summer of 1776.