We have plenty of questions in life. Why are we here? What is our purpose? Why do we suffer from illnesses? Why do we face challenges? Why are we getting problems? These questions are sometimes hard to be answered. Yet, time passes by and the answer we're searching for without notice comes right in front of us.
Our life here on earth by far is the most amazing life that ever existed. We were gifted by our Creator a nature that is full of living things. We co-exist with these biological creations and at some point in our life, we tend to see that in nature is where most of the answers to our difficult questions are. Perhaps, an herb can cure an allergy. Or those leaves can heal our pains. In some places around the world, flowers are what heals the aching soul.
This post is an exhibit of nature's greatest wonder - the flowers. As you open your eyes and examine the beauty of these nature's gifts to us, I will share with you some insights on why our life will sooner or later see the answers to all those difficult questions we have.
Water Lily
In the middle of marshlands or shallow rivers exist the water lily, those floating leaves and their lovely flowers. This reminds us that anywhere on this earth, there is a beauty that can be found. While it can be far, dangerous or impossible to get there, what is known is that that beauty exists.
The Grass' Flower
Even grasses bloom their flowers in seasons. That green long leaves we often ignore, stepped on, or trim, there comes a time when it shares what it has - the flowers of its kind. These flowers symbolize that anyone, any person on this earth, has a beauty to share when its time.
Yellow Flower
Purple Flower
Red Flowers
No matter what infestation or pests comes in, this plant is still able to bear its wonderful red flower. The design is so intricate that it's like a magic that appears from nowhere. In life, we are made stronger and better with challenges, hard challenges, until we realize that there is something great that sprouted from us. That greatness is what will differentiate us from the rest because it was developed out our of hardships and sacrifices.
The Orchids
Orchids mainly thrive on mountain forests where they attach themselves on tree barks and branches. This allows them to gather more oxygen or air, giving them the nutrients they need to grow and bear flowers. Wonder why orchids, the flowers in particular, last for a long time? Well, its their natural property to store nutrients and water on their system, giving off a wonderful display of colors lasting from about 3 to 9 months.
Some of us have the same capabilities as the orchids. We tend to show off our best for a longer period of time because we prepared for it. We win competitions after competitions. We are able to convince more and more customers to buy our products. In our relationship, we tend to become more caring, mature and practical, resulting into greater bonding among our spouse and children. Why not? Become an orchid-like individual and we may last for a lifetime.
The Abaca and Banana Variety
These are varieties of abaca and banana. How beautiful it is to see flowers like these in our backyards. They are first shown as heart-shaped fruits that eventually blossoms into lovely flowers, and then after that, the real edible fruits. There are different variety of this herbaceous plant and they can be found in tropical countries like the Philippines.
Appreciation of life is sometimes the least thing we do, for many of us. When problems strike, we tend to blame our life, our existence. Abaca plant can wait. Banana plant can withstand heat and rain until it reveals in itself a symbol of hope, that flower that will eventually become fruit. We have to be like these plants. We must be patient. We must wait for the right time to come. And it will surely come for as long as we focus ourselves in getting what we want in life. That's the fruit of our labor.
Flowers of the Trees
Big trees, small trees, they do bear flowers too. The thing is that people's attention to these trees only comes when the attractive flowers are already there. But during ordinary days, they are just trees sitting around the corner. When flowers are bountiful, the parks become colorful. The ambiance then becomes conducive to park goers.
People whom are soft-spoken, introverts, or loners are people who are very challenging to approach. They are everywhere. But there is a reason why they act like that. Like trees, most of us choose to sit on a corner rather than mingle with others. But its their choice. However, these trees are people with potentials often unheard of. Until he or she nailed a project or launched an innovative product when we realize trees do have contributions too. They are not just standing there. Instead, they give us shade from the sun and they do sip the floods during the rainy days.
Pink Bell
Probably as a native of our town or province, we often name flowers according to its appearance, second only is when people from other places tend introduce their own name for such. The true name of this plant or flower is "Chocolate Allamanda". Whatever the name maybe, this is the kind of plant that bloom flowers all year long, rain or shine. If we are only like this flower, our life will always be full of purpose and meaning. We are fed by the rainwater and we are energized by the sun's heat. We never stop showing our abilities until we've proven ourselves we can be great in what we're doing in life.
Pink Ginger
If you happen to see a ginger flower, consider yourself lucky for this flower rarely reveals itself. Say you plant a hundred gingers, only a few of them will bear flowers just before the harvest season. But look how sweet and lovely the flower of a ginger is! I've planted a ginger variety and goodness, it's one of the rarest flower I've ever seen.
We have a tendency to surprise others what we have inside of us. Life is full of surprises as they say. One way or the other, there is that moment we can surprise them with our talent and skills. And from nowhere, we ourselves can be surprised of our abilities which we completely have no idea about.
Bells of Fire Tecoma
Pinwheel Jasmine
Some flowers are too common that they are there not to invite watchers, but for a different reason. The jasmine flower tea, perhaps, is one of the reasons this flower is in existence. And there are many flowers that have medicinal purpose. Like jasmine, many flowers are magical. They treat illnesses, they heal the broken souls.
In the Philippines, there is a white tiny flower called "Sampaguita", and it is no other than but a variety of the jasmine flower. It is our country's "National Flower".
The Sampaguita
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| In this photo is a family earning a living by selling necklaces made of sampaguita flowers. Outside many Catholic churches in the Philippines, even on the streets, this is a normal scenario. Sampaguita is the food both for their body and souls. It's a reality we couldn't deny. |
If I were to give this flower a meaning, it is far from about the simplistic beauty or fragrant smell it possesses. Over the decades, Filipino children as young as 5 or 6 are selling necklaces made of Sampaguita. You can see them on the streets or near Catholic churches. It is what feeds their aching stomach, and of the stomachs of most families living in poverty in this beautiful country. Sampaguita is a symbol of courage and hope for most Filipinos.
Bauhinia Coccinea Flowers
Birds of Paradise
Obviously, nature is full of flowers, hundreds of thousands of them, even millions. Some may still have no names. They are not just there to impress us. They play a role, different roles in our life. While this post merely compares such kinds of flowers to our human side, our attitude and outlook in life, it is actually far more than that. Flowers are nature's wonder, gift from up above. Imagine the last photo of flower above, the Birds of Paradise. Have you seen the ants benefiting from it?
The reality is that flowers, to get them and smell them in our homes and offices, have a price tag in it. Flowers are the bread and butter of many for it is their business. More than that, flowers are what adds elegance in a wedding ceremony, solemnity in a funeral, romance in a Valentine's dinner, and fame when hang around the neck of a celebrity or star. Flowers will bloom, do its purpose for the souls of humankind, and die. In flowers is where we might get the answers to the questions in our life.
About this Post
All photos of flowers in this post is captured by Noriel Panganiban, blogger of this site and founder of Knowriel.com. He wants to share them to you in a very meaningful way, not just something to look on to impress the eyes, but something to imagine and ponder about. May this article guide you in your life moving forward. Thank you for your time.
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