DOING LIFE

PROTEA FANTASY

- Sunday, 1 July 2007

A while ago I blogged about the beautiful proteas (my favourite flower) hubby Conroy got me. It was no special occasion, but just a gesture of kindness from his side and showing me how much he appreciates me.

I created this layout with some of the photos I took of the arrangement which definitely makes this gesture more permanent. The proteas has died off, but I will always have this layout to remind me of how beautiful they were.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE PROTEA

"Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.

The genus Protea was named in 1735 by Carolus Linnaeus after the Greek god Proteus who could change his form at will, because proteas have such different forms.

Proteas attracted the attention of botanists visiting the Cape (South Africa) in the 1600s. Many species were introduced to Europe in the 1700s, enjoying a unique popularity at the time amongst botanists.

The Proteaceae family to which Proteas belong is an ancient one. Its ancestors grew in Gondwanaland, 300 million years ago. Proteaceae is divided into two subfamilies: the Proteoideae, best represented in southern Africa, and the Grevilleoideae, concentrated in Australia and South America and the other smaller segments of Gondwanaland that are now part of eastern Asia. Africa shares only one genus with Madagascar, whereas South America and Australia share many common genera — this indicates they separated from Africa before they separated from each other.

In Africa no member of the Protea genus occurs further north than the Limpopo River. 92% of the species occur only in the Cape Floristic Region, a narrow belt of mountainous coastal land from Clanwilliam to Grahamstown. The extraordinary richness and diversity of species characteristic of the Cape Flora is thought to be caused in part by the diverse landscape where populations can become isolated from each other and in time develop into separate species."

Julie, a colleague of mine, commissioned me once again to create birthday cards for her friends Kara-Ann, who is turning 21 and Fran who is hitting the roaring forties. I used some of my left over photos of Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg. Here's how they turned out.

The wording inside:

Don’t’ need candles twinkling in the dark To see the wishful sparkle in your eyes We can feel the magic of rainbows in your heart The innocence that seems so wise We hope you’ll never change the inner you You’re really perfect just the way you are The universe surrounds you with possibilities Look up and wish upon your star And while we’re making wishes I’d like to give you mine It’s for music and love and happiness And Everything divine and furthermore fantasies galore May it last throughout all time Remember down days in the years ahead To use your dream to reach that wishing star Those of us around you surround you with love We love you for all you are And while we’re making wishes Here’s just one or two May each passing year be filled with love May your every dream come true And may you acquire all that you desire Happy birthday to you.

The wording inside:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. - Marianne Williamson HAPPY BIRTHDAY

- Signing off from a CHILLY Kloof, RSA