Spring 1601-1650 Garden in Background

 

Anonymous Artist - Spring with Flowers & a Garden in the Background. Madrid, Museo del Prado. 1601-1650  

Spring & "springtime" refer to the ecological, environmental season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection & regrowth.

17C Allegory of Spring at a Market Scene

Jean-Baptiste de Saive II (Flemish artist, 1597-1642) An Allegory of Spring at a Market Scene with a Boy offering Strawberries to Girl surrounded by Flowers

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

“Despite the forecast, live like it’s Spring.” – Lilly Pulitzer 

Spring & Summer are the perfect time to celebrate the rebirth of Earth's Beauty & Bounty.  Flowers gave beauty & inspiration to mankind's basic struggle to live & to populate & to protect his home-base, The Earth.  Holding on to The Sweet Divine - The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it...Genesis 2:15.

The expression came into popular modern use in the 1960s & is a rephrasing of a sentiment found in an autobiography written by the golfer Walter Hagen: “Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”

18C Spring Allegory from the Italian School

18C Spring Allegory from the Italian School

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers.

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

“I love Spring anywhere, but if I could choose, I would always greet it in a garden.” – Ruth Stout

Spring often means it is time for you & your pet to explore the great outdoors. But before you & your furry best friend stop & smell the spring flowers, make sure they are not toxic. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been in contact with the plants below, call Pet Poison Helpline ASAP & then contact your veterinary team to keep them updated on the situation.

See Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

These services provide immediate expert advice, and include consultation with your veterinarian if needed. There is a fee, so have a credit card handy. Followup of the case is also included, if needed.

Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA): 888-426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

These are the top 3 flowers to avoid:

LILIES

Important note: Extremely dangerous for cats.The entire lily family should be avoided by your pet. They contain toxic alkaloids that are extremely dangerous if ingested, especially for cats. True lilies & daylilies are particularly harmful—just a small amount of ingested pollen can cause deadly toxicity in cats. Dogs are slightly more resistant to the toxicity of lilies, but they can become itchy if exposed to these flowers or have some GI upset if they ingest them.

BEGONIAS

‍Avoid: Begonia grandis, wax begonias, double begonias, fimbriata begonias. These flowers thrive in the springtime, & their stems—particularly the part rooted underground—can cause acute toxicity if ingested by dogs & cats. Similar to our version of hot sauce, if eaten, begonias can result in an extreme burning in your pet’s mouth, swollen tongue or lips, & even difficulty swallowing. If you suspect your pet has swallowed a begonia stem or bulb, take them to an emergency veterinary office for immediate treatment.

AZALEAS

‍Important note: Just a few ounces of azalea flowers are enough to cause severe toxicity in a large-sized dog. These shrub plants come in a variety of sizes & colors & give off a lovely smell. But, when it comes to azaleas, their beauty should be appreciated from afar as they are toxic to all pets, including horses. These flowers can disrupt the cells in an animal's body, which can cause symptoms from blindness & vomiting, to abnormal heart rate or even death. Make sure to avoid: Formosa azaleas, spider azaleas, Gumpbo pink azaleas, rhododendrons.

Flora holding a wreath of flowers by Jean Leblond 1605-1666

Flora holding a wreath of flowers by Jean Leblond 1605-1666 

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

18C Rosalba Carriera (Italian artist, 1675-1757) The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

Spring often means it is time for you & your pet to explore the great outdoors. But before you & your furry best friend stop & smell the spring flowers, make sure they are not toxic. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been in contact with the plants below, call Pet Poison Helpline ASAP & then contact your veterinary team to keep them updated on the situation.

See Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

These services provide immediate expert advice, and include consultation with your veterinarian if needed. There is a fee, so have a credit card handy. Followup of the case is also included, if needed.

Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA): 888-426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

These are the top 3 flowers to avoid:

LILIES

Important note: Extremely dangerous for cats.The entire lily family should be avoided by your pet. They contain toxic alkaloids that are extremely dangerous if ingested, especially for cats. True lilies & daylilies are particularly harmful—just a small amount of ingested pollen can cause deadly toxicity in cats. Dogs are slightly more resistant to the toxicity of lilies, but they can become itchy if exposed to these flowers or have some GI upset if they ingest them.

BEGONIAS

‍Avoid: Begonia grandis, wax begonias, double begonias, fimbriata begonias. These flowers thrive in the springtime, & their stems—particularly the part rooted underground—can cause acute toxicity if ingested by dogs & cats. Similar to our version of hot sauce, if eaten, begonias can result in an extreme burning in your pet’s mouth, swollen tongue or lips, & even difficulty swallowing. If you suspect your pet has swallowed a begonia stem or bulb, take them to an emergency veterinary office for immediate treatment.

AZALEAS

‍Important note: Just a few ounces of azalea flowers are enough to cause severe toxicity in a large-sized dog. These shrub plants come in a variety of sizes & colors & give off a lovely smell. But, when it comes to azaleas, their beauty should be appreciated from afar as they are toxic to all pets, including horses. These flowers can disrupt the cells in an animal's body, which can cause symptoms from blindness & vomiting, to abnormal heart rate or even death. Make sure to avoid: Formosa azaleas, spider azaleas, Gumpbo pink azaleas, rhododendrons.

Le Printemps by Grégoire Huret (French, 1606-1670)

 

Le Printemps by Grégoire Huret (French, 1606-1670) published by Pierre Mariette

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Pierre Gobert (1662-1744)  - Retrato de Noiva as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

Spring often means it is time for you & your pet to explore the great outdoors. But before you & your furry best friend stop & smell the spring flowers, make sure they are not toxic. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been in contact with the plants below, call Pet Poison Helpline ASAP & then contact your veterinary team to keep them updated on the situation.

See Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

These services provide immediate expert advice, and include consultation with your veterinarian if needed. There is a fee, so have a credit card handy. Followup of the case is also included, if needed.

Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA): 888-426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

These are the top 3 flowers to avoid:

LILIES

Important note: Extremely dangerous for cats.The entire lily family should be avoided by your pet. They contain toxic alkaloids that are extremely dangerous if ingested, especially for cats. True lilies & daylilies are particularly harmful—just a small amount of ingested pollen can cause deadly toxicity in cats. Dogs are slightly more resistant to the toxicity of lilies, but they can become itchy if exposed to these flowers or have some GI upset if they ingest them.

BEGONIAS

‍Avoid: Begonia grandis, wax begonias, double begonias, fimbriata begonias. These flowers thrive in the springtime, & their stems—particularly the part rooted underground—can cause acute toxicity if ingested by dogs & cats. Similar to our version of hot sauce, if eaten, begonias can result in an extreme burning in your pet’s mouth, swollen tongue or lips, & even difficulty swallowing. If you suspect your pet has swallowed a begonia stem or bulb, take them to an emergency veterinary office for immediate treatment.

AZALEAS

‍Important note: Just a few ounces of azalea flowers are enough to cause severe toxicity in a large-sized dog. These shrub plants come in a variety of sizes & colors & give off a lovely smell. But, when it comes to azaleas, their beauty should be appreciated from afar as they are toxic to all pets, including horses. These flowers can disrupt the cells in an animal's body, which can cause symptoms from blindness & vomiting, to abnormal heart rate or even death. Make sure to avoid: Formosa azaleas, spider azaleas, Gumpbo pink azaleas, rhododendrons.

Woman as Spring by Martin Droeshout 1601-1639

 

Martin Droeshout (British printmaker, 1601-c 1639) Spring

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Juan van der Hamen y (Gómez de) León (1596-1631) - Offering for Flora, 1627

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

Spring often means it is time for you & your pet to explore the great outdoors. But before you & your furry best friend stop & smell the spring flowers, make sure they are not toxic. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been in contact with the plants below, call Pet Poison Helpline ASAP & then contact your veterinary team to keep them updated on the situation.

See Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

These services provide immediate expert advice, and include consultation with your veterinarian if needed. There is a fee, so have a credit card handy. Followup of the case is also included, if needed.

Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA): 888-426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

These are the top 3 flowers to avoid:

LILIES

Important note: Extremely dangerous for cats.The entire lily family should be avoided by your pet. They contain toxic alkaloids that are extremely dangerous if ingested, especially for cats. True lilies & daylilies are particularly harmful—just a small amount of ingested pollen can cause deadly toxicity in cats. Dogs are slightly more resistant to the toxicity of lilies, but they can become itchy if exposed to these flowers or have some GI upset if they ingest them.

BEGONIAS

‍Avoid: Begonia grandis, wax begonias, double begonias, fimbriata begonias. These flowers thrive in the springtime, & their stems—particularly the part rooted underground—can cause acute toxicity if ingested by dogs & cats. Similar to our version of hot sauce, if eaten, begonias can result in an extreme burning in your pet’s mouth, swollen tongue or lips, & even difficulty swallowing. If you suspect your pet has swallowed a begonia stem or bulb, take them to an emergency veterinary office for immediate treatment.

AZALEAS

‍Important note: Just a few ounces of azalea flowers are enough to cause severe toxicity in a large-sized dog. These shrub plants come in a variety of sizes & colors & give off a lovely smell. But, when it comes to azaleas, their beauty should be appreciated from afar as they are toxic to all pets, including horses. These flowers can disrupt the cells in an animal's body, which can cause symptoms from blindness & vomiting, to abnormal heart rate or even death. Make sure to avoid: Formosa azaleas, spider azaleas, Gumpbo pink azaleas, rhododendrons.

Spring in 19C Europe

Arthur John Elsley (British painter) 1860 - 1952 The Joy of Spring

19C Spring by Franz Xavier Winterhalter (German, 1805-c 1873)

Franz Xavier Winterhalter (German, 1805-c 1873) The Spring

Even though it is chilly today & the weather is mercurial, I can definitely feel spring in the air. Just outside my window this morning, some of the birds are ignoring the seed we put out for them & are heading up to the delicate tips of branches to eat the tender new buds. The sky is bright & clear.

3 Rather Proper Mythical Goddesses Flora - Symbols of Spring by Rembrandt (1606-1669)

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Hendrickje Stofells as Goddess Flora

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Saskia as Goddess Flora

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Saskia as Goddess Flora

In Rome, her festival, the Floralia, was held between April 28 and May 3 and symbolized the renewal of the cycle of life, drinking, and flowers. The festival was first instituted in 240 B.C.E, and on the advice of the Sibylline books, she was also given a temple in 238 B.C.E. At the festival, with the men decked in flowers, and the women wearing normally forbidden gay costumes, five days of farces and mimes were enacted – ithyphallic, and including nudity when called for – followed by a sixth day of the hunting of goats and hares. On May 23 another (rose) festival was held in her honor.  

Flora's Greek equivalent is Chloris, who was a nymph. 

According to myth, Flora is married to Favonius, the wind god also known as Zephyr, and her companion was Hercules.  It is possible that Flora achieved more prominence in the neo-pagan revival of Antiquity among Renaissance humanists than she had enjoyed in ancient Rome.

See:

 Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

 Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

 H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

 William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

Spring often means it is time for you & your pet to explore the great outdoors. But before you & your furry best friend stop & smell the spring flowers, make sure they are not toxic. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been in contact with the plants below, call Pet Poison Helpline ASAP & then contact your veterinary team to keep them updated on the situation.

See Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

These services provide immediate expert advice, and include consultation with your veterinarian if needed. There is a fee, so have a credit card handy. Followup of the case is also included, if needed.

Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA): 888-426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

These are the top 3 flowers to avoid:

LILIES

Important note: Extremely dangerous for cats.The entire lily family should be avoided by your pet. They contain toxic alkaloids that are extremely dangerous if ingested, especially for cats. True lilies & daylilies are particularly harmful—just a small amount of ingested pollen can cause deadly toxicity in cats. Dogs are slightly more resistant to the toxicity of lilies, but they can become itchy if exposed to these flowers or have some GI upset if they ingest them.

BEGONIAS

‍Avoid: Begonia grandis, wax begonias, double begonias, fimbriata begonias. These flowers thrive in the springtime, & their stems—particularly the part rooted underground—can cause acute toxicity if ingested by dogs & cats. Similar to our version of hot sauce, if eaten, begonias can result in an extreme burning in your pet’s mouth, swollen tongue or lips, & even difficulty swallowing. If you suspect your pet has swallowed a begonia stem or bulb, take them to an emergency veterinary office for immediate treatment.

AZALEAS

‍Important note: Just a few ounces of azalea flowers are enough to cause severe toxicity in a large-sized dog. These shrub plants come in a variety of sizes & colors & give off a lovely smell. But, when it comes to azaleas, their beauty should be appreciated from afar as they are toxic to all pets, including horses. These flowers can disrupt the cells in an animal's body, which can cause symptoms from blindness & vomiting, to abnormal heart rate or even death. Make sure to avoid: Formosa azaleas, spider azaleas, Gumpbo pink azaleas, rhododendrons.

Spring in 19C Europe

Charles Conder (British painter) 1868 - 1909 The Howe in Spring

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

18C Rosalba Carriera (Italian artist, 1675-1757) The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

Spring often means it is time for you & your pet to explore the great outdoors. But before you & your furry best friend stop & smell the spring flowers, make sure they are not toxic. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been in contact with the plants below, call Pet Poison Helpline ASAP & then contact your veterinary team to keep them updated on the situation.

See Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

These services provide immediate expert advice, and include consultation with your veterinarian if needed. There is a fee, so have a credit card handy. Followup of the case is also included, if needed.

Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA): 888-426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

These are the top 3 flowers to avoid:

LILIES

Important note: Extremely dangerous for cats.The entire lily family should be avoided by your pet. They contain toxic alkaloids that are extremely dangerous if ingested, especially for cats. True lilies & daylilies are particularly harmful—just a small amount of ingested pollen can cause deadly toxicity in cats. Dogs are slightly more resistant to the toxicity of lilies, but they can become itchy if exposed to these flowers or have some GI upset if they ingest them.

BEGONIAS

‍Avoid: Begonia grandis, wax begonias, double begonias, fimbriata begonias. These flowers thrive in the springtime, & their stems—particularly the part rooted underground—can cause acute toxicity if ingested by dogs & cats. Similar to our version of hot sauce, if eaten, begonias can result in an extreme burning in your pet’s mouth, swollen tongue or lips, & even difficulty swallowing. If you suspect your pet has swallowed a begonia stem or bulb, take them to an emergency veterinary office for immediate treatment.

AZALEAS

‍Important note: Just a few ounces of azalea flowers are enough to cause severe toxicity in a large-sized dog. These shrub plants come in a variety of sizes & colors & give off a lovely smell. But, when it comes to azaleas, their beauty should be appreciated from afar as they are toxic to all pets, including horses. These flowers can disrupt the cells in an animal's body, which can cause symptoms from blindness & vomiting, to abnormal heart rate or even death. Make sure to avoid: Formosa azaleas, spider azaleas, Gumpbo pink azaleas, rhododendrons.

Spring in 19C Europe

 Dante Gabriel Rossetti (British, 1828 - 1882 Spring

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Justus Sustermans (Flemish painter, 1597-1681) Vittoria della Rovere, Grand Duchess of Tuscany as the Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

Spring often means it is time for you & your pet to explore the great outdoors. But before you & your furry best friend stop & smell the spring flowers, make sure they are not toxic. If you suspect your pet has ingested or been in contact with the plants below, call Pet Poison Helpline ASAP & then contact your veterinary team to keep them updated on the situation.

See Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats     https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

These services provide immediate expert advice, and include consultation with your veterinarian if needed. There is a fee, so have a credit card handy. Followup of the case is also included, if needed.

Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA): 888-426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

These are the top 3 flowers to avoid:

LILIES

Important note: Extremely dangerous for cats.The entire lily family should be avoided by your pet. They contain toxic alkaloids that are extremely dangerous if ingested, especially for cats. True lilies & daylilies are particularly harmful—just a small amount of ingested pollen can cause deadly toxicity in cats. Dogs are slightly more resistant to the toxicity of lilies, but they can become itchy if exposed to these flowers or have some GI upset if they ingest them.

BEGONIAS

‍Avoid: Begonia grandis, wax begonias, double begonias, fimbriata begonias. These flowers thrive in the springtime, & their stems—particularly the part rooted underground—can cause acute toxicity if ingested by dogs & cats. Similar to our version of hot sauce, if eaten, begonias can result in an extreme burning in your pet’s mouth, swollen tongue or lips, & even difficulty swallowing. If you suspect your pet has swallowed a begonia stem or bulb, take them to an emergency veterinary office for immediate treatment.

AZALEAS

‍Important note: Just a few ounces of azalea flowers are enough to cause severe toxicity in a large-sized dog. These shrub plants come in a variety of sizes & colors & give off a lovely smell. But, when it comes to azaleas, their beauty should be appreciated from afar as they are toxic to all pets, including horses. These flowers can disrupt the cells in an animal's body, which can cause symptoms from blindness & vomiting, to abnormal heart rate or even death. Make sure to avoid: Formosa azaleas, spider azaleas, Gumpbo pink azaleas, rhododendrons.

Spring in 19C Europe

/

Charles Edward Wilson (British painter) 1854 - 1941 Apple Blossdoms

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

1630s Claude Vignon (1593-1670)  - Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window & wait for Spring.” – Rogers Hornsby

Spring & Summer are the perfect time to celebrate the rebirth of Earth's Beauty & Bounty.  Flowers gave beauty & inspiration to mankind's basic struggle to live & to populate & to protect his home-base, The Earth.  Holding on to The Sweet Divine - The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it...Genesis 2:15.

The expression came into popular modern use in the 1960s & is a rephrasing of a sentiment found in an autobiography written by the golfer Walter Hagen: “Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”

17C Spring Boating Parties - Making Music & Gathering Newly Green Branches

1660 Published by Matthew Collings; After Crispijn de Passe the Elder; After Maarten de Vos. May; boat with two couples collecting green branches, drinking, and making music.   The branches of new leaves decorating the boat celebrate the regeneration of spring & fertility.

Spring in 19C Europe

Arthur Hacker (British painter) 1858 - 1919 Morning Walk

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

1620 Cornelis van Poelenburgh, (1594-1667) Woman Portrayed as Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)