Hydrangeas and Buddha

I am fairly certain that relators do not have a separate “rules of the road” handbook. 

But someone failed to point this out to Ms Bumblehead. If you are so far out of your normal hood try to blend in. Do a drive by to get a feel of the area and then come back in and for the love of puppies pull into a parking lot to stop and stare at what you believe is a juicy bit of bloody commercial real estate for some client you have! Do not turn into a lane, slow way down and come to a complete stop in the middle of the road to stare out your open window with your mouth gaping open. The speed limit on that road is 45, the light was in our favor and yet you turned anyway. Some of us were actually doing 45 because the light was in our favor. Thank GOD the car next to me was turning left and pulled over into the turn lane. If you are pulling into the path of flowing traffic your goal is to get your bloody little hamster driven car up to the speed limit in quick time. NOT to slow down! NOT to stop! Female creature there was a huge, ginormous empty parking lot immediately to your right you could have pulled into. My guess is that car behind you stopped about 4 inches from your bumper. I pray you made it safely though the rest of your day.

I looked for you on Oxford Street Tavish I did not see you, maybe today.

I brought home several of the Hydrangea centerpieces and that got me curious about Hydrangeas. So here we go….

Hydrangeas are also called Hortensia. That is what my grandmother called them Hortensia and my grandfather grew them on the side of her house. They were in shades of lilac, blue, lavender. They were the same shade as her eyes.

 There are over 70 species. They are native to North and South America and East Asia. Some grow as small border plants and others can grow as tall as trees by using the tree to support it.

The island Faial in the Azores is known as the “blue island” due to the number of Hydrangeas growing wild all over it.

Terceira another island in the Azores is known as the “lilac island” due to the abundance of Hydrangeas of that color growing there.

Hydrangeas produce a pom-pom type of flower head grouping. In the middle are small flowers that are fertile and they are surrounded by larger flowers that are sterile.

These plants are moderately toxic if eaten. Smoking them creates a feeling of intoxication but death from cyanide produced can happen.

In Japan leaves from Hydrangea Serrata are made into a tea called ama-cha. This tea is traditionally used as a ceremonial tea in what is called kan-butsu-e or the Buddha bathing ceremony which occurs on April 8 the day thought to be Buddha’s birthday in Japan. During the ceremony the tea is poured over Buddha and also served to people in attendance. It represents the act of the nine dragons who poured Amrita over him at his birth.

In Asia full pink blossoms are given to loved ones as they mean “you are the beat of my heart.”

Hydrangea- greek form of hydor “water” and angeion “vessel or capsule” because the plant has a cup shaped seed pod.

Well now we know. Lady Tamara www.LairdOfLochaber.com needs to check on the water in her Hydrangea arrangements. Send you Mom a large white arrangement for Christmas they look like giant snowballs.