“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.” ~ Robert D. San Souci
Good Sunday morning, beautiful souls. I do hope this finds you well and that the past week was a good one.
Considered a weed by many, although I can’t imagine such, poppies brighten our days with their blooms and also by where they decide to grow. They enjoy scattering their seeds by the wind and are quite happy being allowed to grow in the spots ‘they’ choose. To be as delicate as they seem, poppies are a tough plant and grow in rocky places and under adverse conditions. I have no idea where the photo above was taken. But it doesn’t appear to be too cheerful. However, the bright red poppy grows as a sign of hope and beauty in the cold stone.
It has been said, “Poppies refuse to grow where they are not welcome.” I am always so excited to see them every spring and I believe they know it. It is such fun to see where they decide to grow in our garden. Our poppy seeds traveled many miles to their new home in West Virginia. They are from a friend in France.
“Hope always blooms.” ~
In thinking of plants that grow and bloom in ‘adversity,’ I have also given much thought to brave people who have bloomed during terrible times, in horrid conditions. People whose lives were in the hands of evil and in spite of it all, they managed to inspire and care for others.
Currently, in our world, our conditions are far from good. Our lives have been turned upside down by the Coronavirus and we are terribly saddened by the unrest at home and in our world. However, there remain many good people and good things happening. And, for me, it is important to pause a moment and remember them.
“Bloom as if you want to make the whole world beautiful.” ~
Dear friends, among you, are fellow bloggers, virtual friends, and my precious friends of many years. To me, you are all a gift and a part of the good in our world. I want you to know what an inspiration you are by the comments you leave on my blog as well as your private messages. I am certain you also inspire others. Truly, I am grateful to all of you and I send a huge ‘thank you’ for your goodness.
Know that you, indeed, make the ‘world beautiful.’
Have a perfectly glorious day and a lovely week ahead!
Stay well.
“Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything –
It’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen, Anthem
Amour,
Sandra
Images: via tumblr, Michael S. Lambiotte
Such a beautiful post, Sandra. Love those lines of Leonard Cohen’s. Poppies is one thing I don’t have in my garden this year. But it isn’t because I don’t love them. I have a special place in my heart ever since I was a girl and I saw the pastel California poppies bobbing in the middle of my grandma’s front lawn. Although I didn’t know the word at the time, but indeed, I had the feeling of ‘how audacious and bold of them’. And loved them for that very reason.
I wish you a peace-filled Sunday.
Brenda xox
Good morning, Brenda. Many thanks for your kind words. When you mentioned California poppies, it reminded me of a gardening story of mom and my Basset Hound, Blue. Mom was having her garden club to the house. She had a gorgeous bed of California poppies she had started from seed and they were in bloom. Just before the ladies were to arrive I heard her scream, “Sandra come and get your dog.” Blue was lounging in the middle of her poppies. Let me know if you are interested in seed from my poppies, I will send you some. Happy day to you, my friend.❤
Good morning, Sandra. Thank you for a lovely and inspiring post. Adversity will always show our true colors. It is amazing to see poppies growing out of the stone wall! I love your garden view, just beautiful with the poppies showing their happy faces. Wishing you and Michael a beauty-filled Sunday!
Thank you so much, dear Pam. It is amazing to see where poppies will grow. We had one to grow and bloom this year between the stones on our patio. Wishing you and your lovely family a beautiful day and week ahead.❤
How fun to have poppies from a friend in France growing in your garden. I am glad we met through blogging, you always start my Sundays off right.
Many thanks, Penny. I am happy we met as well. Have a grand day, my friend.
You are a perfect bloom to many of us.
Ah, Lu – thank you so much. What is our town going to do without you? You have been an inspiration to so many. Blessings dear friend, and have a beautiful day! ❤
Likewise, thank you for your weekly positive spirit through words and photos! You are appreciated!
Thank you, Rita. Stay well and have a lovely week.❤
Dear friend, your words are wise, that is a fact that is repeated in everything you write because you have the wonderful gift of transmitting beautiful and certain things. Once I think I already quoted a very dear friend from Chile who always said that “intensities” meet. True, very true … That is the secret of what you say when you say that you find very similar people throughout this virtual world. True, my friend, very true and so I found our dear friend Pan and you when reading your comments on her blog. It is not vital to know yourself physically because the soul does not need to be touched or hugged, the soul flows without stopping and fixes on similar souls.
I love what you write, you are a great person.
A kiss on your soul
Dearest Dolores, how do I begin to thank you for your beautiful words. You write in such a lovely way that it deeply touches my heart. Everything you wrote is so very true. I will be always grateful for meeting you through our dear friend, Pam. I love hearing from you and very much enjoy your blog. You are teaching me many new things. And that is a blessing.
Have a lovely week and stay well.❤
Your poppies are exquisite. I had some years ago and I miss them.
Thank you Sandra for the beauty you share and the encouragement to show kindness, recognize the good in situations and strive to stay positive during difficult times.
Have a lovely week. ???
Thank you, Bonnie. I love poppies also, and mine are special to me as they came from a friend and all the way from France.
I believe it can be hard to remain positive during the difficult times we are living in, but it is the good people like yourself and the good that you and others do that keep me focused on the Light. Blessings my friend and stay well.❤
You are the inspiration, my friend. This is such a wonderful post (and even more so because of the poppies. I adore them but don’t have them in the garden.) Somehow your words are always exquisite — and so right on target. Just what I need to hear.
Many thanks, dear Jeanie. Let me know if you would like some poppy seeds and I will send you some. They should be very happy with you, because they adore cold weather.
Have a wonderful week and stay well.
Beautiful, Sandra. Poppies grow in my garden wherever they like. Sometimes I transplant them to grow in clumps. There are poppies in the squashes and alongside tomatoes. I love their wild ways. Leonard Cohen’s words are a good reminder of the way adversity can turn to good.
Good morning, Lorrie. Thank you so much for your kind words.
I love that your poppies grow alongside your tomatoes and squash. You said it perfectly – “their wild ways.” I will always remember that. Wishing you a lovely week, Lorrie. Stay well.
Sandra, I loved reading about poppies. I think they are such a beautiful flower, and how special to have some growing in your garden from France! I have never seen them in Oklahoma. I’m going to have to do some research to see if they grow here. I hope you have a beautiful and blessed week ahead, dear friend!
Thank you so much, Shannon. I would rather imagine they would grow in your area. They are certainly not fussy about the soil. They may bloom in your area a little earlier as they are not fond of the heat. You also have a lovely week, sweet friend. Stay well.
Sandra, you have that rare gift of expression that brings out such emotional responses from all who are reading. I have a file with your quotes and heartfelt sayings that I look to for comfort. Thank you so much for that…for being the light in the cracks. Hugs!
Dear Bobbi, what lovely and kind thoughts you have sent my way today. I appreciate you and your thoughts so very much. It pleases me that you enjoy the quotes – I love beautiful words that touch my heart. To me, they make a difference in my daily rounds and I too look to them for comfort and inspiration. Wishing you a lovely week, dear one.❤
Hi,dear Sandra ! I am late because I have had computer issues and I could not fix it for a while…What a beautiful post as ever.Thank you for your always adorable posts.Hugs and blessings.
Thank you so much, Maristella. Dear friend do not ever be concerned about visiting me late. Life happens and computer issues can be maddening. Have a lovely week, my friend. ❤