I found that I have collected a sizable stock of flower pictures that I've taken while I've been walking around our neighborhood lately, and as I reviewed them, the very old term 'flower power' came to mind, and that led me to start work on this post. Truth be told, since I'm 66 now and my allergic reaction to pollen seems to be as robust as ever, the term 'flower power' in this case refers to the sudden fit of sneezing I was subjected to not long ago as I passed beneath a Chinaberry tree in full bloom.
I thought that a bouquet of flower photos would make a good post for folks who are suffering through their yearly dose of seeing white as the dominant outdoor color. Then, I started thinking of a piece of music that might represent what 'flower power' meant way back when. (not all of you are as old as I am so this is educational.) l considered several, but none felt right. Even this one, which many might argue is the definitive flower power song, wasn't quite right for me.
I have to admit that when I first heard it, I thought it achingly beautiful. Then there was this one.
It was cool but it didn't produce the feeling of longing in me that Scott's song had.
I continued to think and then, it hit me...
The year was 1968. That summer, my parents enrolled me in a six-week math and science summer course at NMU. I lived in a dorm, took classes that were right at the edge of my understanding, and didn't want to go home when it was over. Oh, and a guy down the hall had a record player...This is an excerpt from The Mothers of Invention album, We're Only In It For The Money. I don't remember any of the other albums we must have listened to that summer, just this one. By the time I went home, I had the entire album memorised. This is where I first learned about flower power.
I started reciting many of the lyrics in the days following my return to home. My parents were not as enthusiastic as I was about Frank Zappa's music. ('if you want to call it that,' said dad)
I continued to think and then, it hit me...
The year was 1968. That summer, my parents enrolled me in a six-week math and science summer course at NMU. I lived in a dorm, took classes that were right at the edge of my understanding, and didn't want to go home when it was over. Oh, and a guy down the hall had a record player...This is an excerpt from The Mothers of Invention album, We're Only In It For The Money. I don't remember any of the other albums we must have listened to that summer, just this one. By the time I went home, I had the entire album memorised. This is where I first learned about flower power.
I started reciting many of the lyrics in the days following my return to home. My parents were not as enthusiastic as I was about Frank Zappa's music. ('if you want to call it that,' said dad)
So, here is a look at Henderson and it's flower power. It's the time of the sea-son for grow-ing.
"Hey gramps, where you going with that flower in your hand?"
"Hey gramps, where you going with that flower in your hand?"
"Well, I'm livin' now in Hendo, gotta love this kaleidoscopic land."
A bottle-brush flower.
The bottle-brush tree is perfectly named.
The Chinaberry Tree. Boy, do they smell good.
Cordyline australis, cabbage palm, ti kouka
Jeanne's geraniums along our fence line.
'Squeakers' the Guinea Girl lies resting here.
Jeanne's rose.
Magnolia blossoms are huge.
I'm ending my flower show today with what looks to me like a 'negative' of a flower photo.
It's the sunset taken from our yard on the evening of November 10, 2017.
"Every day has an evening."
There will be a flower power part two at some point.
FYI Frank Zappa wrote and recorded an unbelievable amount and music. ('if you want to call it that,' said dad) It was so varied that it would be impossible for me to choose one work and tell you, "This is Frank Zappa." Let's instead listen to an instrumental piece he did entitled, Blessed Relief, that even dad would have endorsed. -djf
You're so lucky to have such a wide variety of flowers to enjoy in NZ! As for me, your lovely pictures need no musical accompaniment - but now I just can't get the image of you with flowers in your hair out of my head - and another of you going somewhere with a flower in your hand in your "kaleidoscopic land".
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your memories and the beautiful flowers with us!
I sympathize with you. Having such an image in your head must be disconcerting. I assure you, it had and has no basis in reality.
ReplyDeleteAs for today, I only 'pick' the flowers here with the camera. How else could I share them with all of you?
Watch for the coming of flower power part two. I'll be showing you my very favorite 'flower' (hint- it's really an inflorescence.'
oooo Goody! can't wait to see part 2. I had to look up 'inflorescence'. I feel really smart now. :)
Delete