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Wordful Wednesday: Floral Symbolics

For several weeks of participating in Wordless Wednesday, I couldn't be sure whether putting a title for each entry was or wasn't somewhat or exactly right. I always had a title. I couldn't be totally wordless about them. Although I enjoyed Wordless in its style, I found it increasingly difficult to shut up. So glad I found Angie of 7 Clown Circus hosting Wordful Wednesday - a solution to the feeling of inadequateness in being rendered wordless. If you feel the same way, head over to the Wordful Wednesday home where you can yak about your photo like it's your adorable grandkid.

During Wai Khru or Teacher Appreciation Day in Thailand, teachers are presented with flowers. This one on the photo is somewhat improvised, i.e. eggplant flowers are nowhere in this arragement, but the meaning is intact. Supposedly, the eggplant flower, represented by the white, tiny flowers forming lines on the body of this arrangement, stands for respect because when the tree is blooming its branches bend down in the same way a student pays respect to their teacher. Bermuda grass, replaced in this arrangement with the purplish pink flowers, stands for patience or perseverance because it looks very much alive for a long time. The popped rice, represented as the white tips on the pointed banana leaves, stands for discipline because the rice is placed in a pan together and heated up to become popped rice. The needle-like leaves mean the student will be sharp-witted and brainy.


Description revised from http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1618


There! It felt good to let that out. Happy now :-)

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Comments

Liz {Learning To Juggle} said…
Happy WW to you!!

That is a goregous arrangement!!
8 July 2009 at 12:31
Anya said…
Its very beautiful ,
so many blooms are in it,
I love it :)
Great shot.
8 July 2009 at 16:37
Buckeroomama said…
Wow, that is some flower arrangement!

Happy WW.
8 July 2009 at 16:55
Liz Mays said…
That is truly beautiful!
8 July 2009 at 18:11
Susan Holt Simpson said…
Glad you got to describe your photo with no guilt! The flowers are amazing and .... exotic!
8 July 2009 at 19:27
Hootin Anni said…
Beautiful arrangement!! Great, stunning, colors!!

And yes...I agree, Wordful Wednesday makes more sense...why blog if you're not gonna 'talk'?

Happy W W wish to you. Mine's posted, a little bit of art/sculpture...and a bit of franchise history in Coastal Bend Texas today, I hope you can stop by.
8 July 2009 at 19:53
Claremont First Ward said…
I'm so glad you "let it all out" in MANY words.

I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this. What an incredible arrangement with meaning.

It reminds me of The Rose Parade floats here in LA on a smaller scale!

I hope you participate each week. I'm looking forward to it!
8 July 2009 at 21:18
Wayfaring Wanderer said…
What an arrangement! Thanks for giving the detail about the selection process behind such a thoughtful sentiment :)

p.s. Welcome to WordFUL Wednesday!!
10 July 2009 at 19:45
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