Orchids, how do we love thee?
A friend found this on the AOS forum. Thought I'd share, as I believe it
expresses what many of us feel. Diana Following is a partial transcription of a chapter in a digitized book published in 1893. The book that the excerpt comes from is at: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/...=jpg&PageNum=2 About Orchids A Chat by Frederick Boyle Among the gentle forms of intellectual excitement I know not one to compare with the joy of restoring a neglected orchid to health. One may buy such for coppers--rare species, too--of a size and a "potentiality' of display which the dealers would estimate at as many pounds were they in good condition on their shelves. I am avoiding names and details, but it will be allowed me to say in brief, that I myself have bought more than twenty pots for five shillings at the auction-rooms, not twice nor thrice either. One half of them were sick beyond recovery, some few had been injured by accident, but by far the greater part were victims of ignorance and ill-temperment which might still be redressed. Orchids tell their own tale, whether of happiness or misery, in characters beyond dispute. Mr. O'Brien alleged, indeed, before the grave and experienced signors gathered in conference, that "like the domestic animals they soon find out when they are in hands that love them. With such a guardian they seem to be happy, and to thrive, and to establish an understanding, indicating to him their wants in many important matters as plainly as though they could speak." And the laugh that followed this statement was not derisive. He who glances at the endless tricks, methods, and contrivances devised by one or other species to serve it's turn may well come to fancy that orchids are reasoning things. |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
Diana Kulaga wrote:
A friend found this on the AOS forum. Thought I'd share, as I believe it expresses what many of us feel. Diana Following is a partial transcription of a chapter in a digitized book published in 1893. The book that the excerpt comes from is at: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/...=jpg&PageNum=2 About Orchids A Chat by Frederick Boyle Among the gentle forms of intellectual excitement I know not one to compare with the joy of restoring a neglected orchid to health. One may buy such for coppers--rare species, too--of a size and a "potentiality' of display which the dealers would estimate at as many pounds were they in good condition on their shelves. I am avoiding names and details, but it will be allowed me to say in brief, that I myself have bought more than twenty pots for five shillings at the auction-rooms, not twice nor thrice either. One half of them were sick beyond recovery, some few had been injured by accident, but by far the greater part were victims of ignorance and ill-temperment which might still be redressed. Orchids tell their own tale, whether of happiness or misery, in characters beyond dispute. Mr. O'Brien alleged, indeed, before the grave and experienced signors gathered in conference, that "like the domestic animals they soon find out when they are in hands that love them. With such a guardian they seem to be happy, and to thrive, and to establish an understanding, indicating to him their wants in many important matters as plainly as though they could speak." And the laugh that followed this statement was not derisive. He who glances at the endless tricks, methods, and contrivances devised by one or other species to serve it's turn may well come to fancy that orchids are reasoning things. "Like the domestic animals they soon find out when they are in hands that love them" Says it all K Barrett. |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
If orchids are like domestic animals, I think they are more like cats than
like dogs though: They expect and demand certain things from you, and they don't do tricks on demand but rather act mostly as they please and if it happens to please the humans involved as well, that's fine, but surely we know who is really in charge. ;-) Theirs is not an unconditional love and need for constant affection. And while they do indeed seem to know when they are in hands that love them, benign neglect may suit just fine as long as the home is to their liking, and they get water and food, and otherwise are pretty much allowed to do things their way. Just as many a cat has told its human "you may pet me now" and then "leave me alone", an orchid ultimately decides what happens and when (even though with food and other incentives we may try to coax it to do otherwise, and we may even be successful). It may decide to flower and reflower almost non-stop, while another of the same species or hybrid (or even a sibling plant) that is treated in much the same way in seemingly the same conditions may wither away or decide that it would rather be a leafy plant no matter what you do. Joanna "K Barrett" wrote in message ... snip "Like the domestic animals they soon find out when they are in hands that love them" Says it all K Barrett. |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
Heinlein had it mostly right, he just left out the orchids when he said
something to the effect that "Women and cats will do as they please, men and dogs should just get used to it." Or maybe he meant Catts G. Kenni "J Fortuna" wrote in message news:kBqmf.726$Jz6.489@trnddc06... If orchids are like domestic animals, I think they are more like cats than like dogs though: |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
And don't you all just love to keep us guessing! And (mostly) don't we love it
;-) On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 21:11:25 -0500, "Kenni Judd" wrote: Heinlein had it mostly right, he just left out the orchids when he said something to the effect that "Women and cats will do as they please, men and dogs should just get used to it." Or maybe he meant Catts G. Kenni "J Fortuna" wrote in message news:kBqmf.726$Jz6.489@trnddc06... If orchids are like domestic animals, I think they are more like cats than like dogs though: Dave Gillingham ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To email me remove the .private from my email address. |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
Reminds me of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee":
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. Perhaps a little too fulsome for just a plant, no matter how much we love our orchids. BTW, in acknowledgement, I copied the above from http://www.amherst.edu/~rjyanco/lite...nttheways.html On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 18:19:34 -0500, "Diana Kulaga" wrote: A friend found this on the AOS forum. Thought I'd share, as I believe it expresses what many of us feel. Diana Following is a partial transcription of a chapter in a digitized book published in 1893. The book that the excerpt comes from is at: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/...=jpg&PageNum=2 About Orchids A Chat by Frederick Boyle Among the gentle forms of intellectual excitement I know not one to compare with the joy of restoring a neglected orchid to health. One may buy such for coppers--rare species, too--of a size and a "potentiality' of display which the dealers would estimate at as many pounds were they in good condition on their shelves. I am avoiding names and details, but it will be allowed me to say in brief, that I myself have bought more than twenty pots for five shillings at the auction-rooms, not twice nor thrice either. One half of them were sick beyond recovery, some few had been injured by accident, but by far the greater part were victims of ignorance and ill-temperment which might still be redressed. Orchids tell their own tale, whether of happiness or misery, in characters beyond dispute. Mr. O'Brien alleged, indeed, before the grave and experienced signors gathered in conference, that "like the domestic animals they soon find out when they are in hands that love them. With such a guardian they seem to be happy, and to thrive, and to establish an understanding, indicating to him their wants in many important matters as plainly as though they could speak." And the laugh that followed this statement was not derisive. He who glances at the endless tricks, methods, and contrivances devised by one or other species to serve it's turn may well come to fancy that orchids are reasoning things. Dave Gillingham ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To email me remove the .private from my email address. |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
LOL! Leave it to Joanna to parse this down to the last word!
How are you feeling these days? Aren't we all due to become uncles and aunts pretty soon? Diana |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
Diana,
Grin. Feeling pretty well most of the time. Though walking has become less comfortable, and it is more difficult to sleep since there is no comfortable lying down position at this time. Oh yes, and earlier today I had a major anxiety attack thing, way out of proportion to the problem at hand. So I guess I am just acting like a typical pregnant woman. The due date continues to be January 4th, so yes it is soon, though I am beginning to think that it is not soon enough. Joanna "Diana Kulaga" wrote in message ... LOL! Leave it to Joanna to parse this down to the last word! How are you feeling these days? Aren't we all due to become uncles and aunts pretty soon? Diana |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 15:19:34 -0800, Diana Kulaga wrote
(in article ): A friend found this on the AOS forum. Thought I'd share, as I believe it expresses what many of us feel. Diana Excellent find, Di. Tom Walnut Creek, CA Nikon D70 |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
Joanna, try lying in the fetal position, like spooning, with a pillow
between your knees. -- Cheers Wendy Remove PETERPAN for email reply J Fortuna wrote: Diana, Grin. Feeling pretty well most of the time. Though walking has become less comfortable, and it is more difficult to sleep since there is no comfortable lying down position at this time. Oh yes, and earlier today I had a major anxiety attack thing, way out of proportion to the problem at hand. So I guess I am just acting like a typical pregnant woman. The due date continues to be January 4th, so yes it is soon, though I am beginning to think that it is not soon enough. Joanna "Diana Kulaga" wrote in message ... LOL! Leave it to Joanna to parse this down to the last word! How are you feeling these days? Aren't we all due to become uncles and aunts pretty soon? Diana |
Orchids, how do we love thee?
Wendy,
Thanks, but I've tried that, and I keep trying that, and occasionally it is comfortable enough too, but most of the time it just ain't. I've also tried sleeping while sitting propped up, and that is a bit more promising. I've currently got 5 different pillows and I generally use at least 3 of them in one way or another, including a full-body pillow and a little wedge pillow. I am now thinking of buying a 6th pillow: the kind of pillow that they sell for airline passengers for around the neck -- especially when I am sleeping half-way propped up in a sitting position. I am also thinking of trying sleeping in the recliner instead of in the bed, haven't tried that yet at night-time -- though during the day-time no dice yet, I have always had trouble napping while the sun was up even when I was a child myself -- I will have to learn to overcome this major deficiency and learn to sleep whenever I can, wherever I can, and for however short I can, or else I will be in major trouble. One of the problems with the recliner napping idea by the way (just to return to the subject of orchids) is that the recliner is positioned in the living room within viewing distance of the orchids, and when I am in the recliner I may get distracted and want to look at the orchids instead of falling asleep. :-) Joanna "wendy7" wrote in message news:sNPmf.3233$du.3062@fed1read02... Joanna, try lying in the fetal position, like spooning, with a pillow between your knees. -- Cheers Wendy Remove PETERPAN for email reply J Fortuna wrote: Diana, Grin. Feeling pretty well most of the time. Though walking has become less comfortable, and it is more difficult to sleep since there is no comfortable lying down position at this time. Oh yes, and earlier today I had a major anxiety attack thing, way out of proportion to the problem at hand. So I guess I am just acting like a typical pregnant woman. The due date continues to be January 4th, so yes it is soon, though I am beginning to think that it is not soon enough. Joanna "Diana Kulaga" wrote in message ... LOL! Leave it to Joanna to parse this down to the last word! How are you feeling these days? Aren't we all due to become uncles and aunts pretty soon? Diana |
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