Monday, April 29, 2024

Spring - Love & Bird Nests

1779 Spring Published by Carington Bowles after John Collet London. 

John Collet (b. London; d. London 1780) was a painter of genre everyday subjects. He studied St. Martin's Lane Academy & was pupil of Lambert; exhibited 1761-80 & posthumously 1783; popularized by engravings by John Goldar. In the late 1760s, a number of Collet's designs were engraved by Goldar & others for Thomas Bradford of Fleet Street; from 1768-73, prints after his work were jointly published by Robert Sayer & John Smith, & from 1774-76 by Sayer & Bennett; from 1777-81, mezzotints after his designs published by Carington Bowles.

In this allegory of Spring, a man holds the hands of a bashful young woman. He points to two doves billing beside him, while a boy on the right plays with a bird's nest, and an old woman looking on from behind a tree & a fence seems upset. 

Bird nests are symbols of home; they represent the love, commitment, & effort it takes to build a happy home for a family. Bird nests are also good-luck symbols. Legend has it that prosperity will come to any home that finds a bird's nest nestled among the branches of the family Christmas tree. This legend can be traced back to Iceland, Sweden, & Germany. The many varied versions of the legend include in that prosperity: health, happiness, friendship, & good luck. Nests are not where birds sleep (roost) - they are for keeping eggs & baby chicks in place while nurturing them. They are a protected home for new life, a safe-harbor for the continuation of the species. 

“If you happen upon a bird’s nest along the road with young ones or eggs, whether in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young ones or the eggs, you must not take the mother together with her young...Do this so that it may go well with you and you may live long. Deuteronomy 22:6-7 

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. Follow-up of the case is also included, if needed.

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

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

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.

17C Myths of Spring around a Garden

1600 From The Four Seasons; Martius, Aprilis, Maius published by Joan Baptista Vrints. A Spring Landscape with a man playing the lute accompanied by woman holding flowers in her hand; a boat on the water collecting branches; with farming and gardening activities in background.

In Pagan Rome, Floralia, from April 27-May 3 was the festival of the Flower Goddess Flora & the flowering of Springtime. Roman Catholic traditions of adoring statues of Mary with garlands of flowers on May 1 have Roman Pagan roots. On May 1, offerings were made to Bona Dea (as Mother Earth), the Lares (household guardian spirits), & Maia (Goddess of Increase) from whom May gets its name. On May 1, early cultures followed a pastoral tradition of turning sheep, cows, other livestock out to pasture. In early Scandinavia, mock battles between Winter & Summer were enacted at this time.

Fire is a common accompaniment to many of the nearly here  May celebrations. Celebrants mark the holiday by lighting fires, dancing, feasting & often performing fertility rites. Many built a bonfire & then moved through it or danced clockwise around it. Livestock was driven around a Beltane fire or between 2 fires for purification & fertility blessings. In ancient times Druid priests kindled it at sacred places. In later times, Christian priests kindled their spring fires in fields near the church after peforming a Christian church service. Branches & twigs often were carried around these fire 3 times, then hung over hearths to bless homes.  Risk-takers made a wish for good luck before jumping a bonfire or the flame of a candle. Beltane may refer to the “fires of Bel,” in honor of the Celtic sun god, Belenus. Some pagans believe fire has the power to cleanse, purify & increase fertility.

Some believed during May the veil between the human & supernatural worlds is at its thinnest, making them potent days for magic.

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Allegory of Spring - In a Garden

1754 Spring from The Four Seasons published by Thomas Major London.

People appear to work in the walled sunken garden behind the group. A man hands a flower to a young woman sitting on a terrace with her attendant standing behind them.  A boy at right has a parrot perched on his hand.  They are in a garden with a statue of a Venus & an arch at left, through which a couple can be seen in an embrace. Plants in pots dot the area around the group.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

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. Follow-up of the case is also included, if needed.

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

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

16C Spring Allegories - Hunting, & Shearing Sheep & Finding a Bird for the Lady

Sebastian Vrancx (Flemish artist, 1573-1647) Allegory of the Season Spring

Celebrating our 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.

Friday, April 26, 2024

Arbor Day - Some Famous Trees in The United States include

 

Library of Congress

The Liberty Tree in Boston, Massachusetts

On August 14, 1765, a defiant group of American colonists rallied beneath the mighty boughs of a century-old elm tree to protest the enactment of the highly unpopular Stamp Act. The young rebels, who called themselves the Sons of Liberty, decorated the tree with banners, lanterns & effigies of the British stamp master & prime minister.

Over the next decade, patriots regularly gathered around the tree for meetings, speeches & celebrations until British soldiers & Loyalists under siege in Boston chopped it into firewood during the summer of 1775. The Liberty Tree became such a powerful patriotic symbol that towns throughout the colonies followed Boston’s lead in designating their own versions.

The Liberty Tree was an elm that was planted in 1646 about one block east of the Boston Common. Prior to the American Revolution, angry dissenters of British rule & taxation, used the tree to hang effigies of men who supported the hated Stamp Act & also hung lanterns on its branches to symbolize unity.

As news of the Liberty Tree spread, local patriots in all 13 colonies formed their own patriotic liberty groups & chose a large tree or erected a pole to be used as a meeting place. During the siege of Boston in August 1775, Loyalists cut the original tree down & used it for firewood.

This act further united the livid patriotic colonists & flags with the Liberty Tree emblem were often displayed at the battles of the American Revolution. The Liberty Tree became a symbol for liberty & resistance to tyranny.

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.”

The Charter Oak in Hartford, Connecticut

After England’s King James II assumed the throne, he sought to revoke the royal charter issued to Connecticut in 1662 by his predecessor & late brother, King Charles II. The colonists of Connecticut, however, had no desire to turn over the document & relinquish the limited autonomy that it granted.

According to legend, the king’s royal governor, Sir Edmund Andros, met with colonial leaders in a Hartford meeting house soon after his arrival in 1687. After the governor demanded the charter, the candles in the room suddenly blew out. When light was restored, the parchment had vanished. Captain Joseph Wadsworth supposedly squirreled the document away in the trunk of a nearby white oak tree. The charter remained in colonial custody & was used to govern Connecticut until 1818. The centuries-old “Charter Oak,” which blew down in a storm in 1856, remains a treasured state symbol.


The 9/11 Survivor Tree in New York City

Weeks after the attacks of September 11, 2001, recovery workers at Ground Zero discovered a lone sign of life amid the rubble of the World Trade Center—a Callery pear tree, crushed & scorched, yet somehow still alive. The New York City Parks Department transplanted an eight-foot stump of the severely damaged tree to a Bronx nursery & slowly nursed it back to health. The “Survivor Tree” was replanted at the site in 2010 & is now part of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum as a symbol of survival & resilience.


How Washington, D.C. Got Its Japanese Cherry Trees

The flowering of the cherry trees, living symbols of peace between the United States & Japan, lining the Tidal Basin is an annual rite of spring in Washington, D.C. The first shipment of Japanese cherry trees that arrived in 1910 was infected with insects & parasitic worms & ordered destroyed by President William Taft. The second shipment of more than 3,000 cherry trees, composed of a dozen varieties gifted by Tokyo, arrived in March 1912 in perfect condition & were planted on the parkland reclaimed from the Potomac River’s mud flats.


The Emancipation Oak (Hampton, Virginia

In the fall of 1861, the children of enslaved people who had escaped to the refuge of Union-held Fort Monroe gathered underneath the sprawling canopy of a southern live oak to listen to free African American Mary Smith Peake as she began to teach them how to read & write. Previously, enslaved people had been forbidden an education under Virginia law. Underneath the same oak tree, now on the grounds of Hampton University, African Americans congregated in 1863 to listen to the first reading in the South of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln.

It's Arbor Day Celebrating Trees - The American Revolution & Liberty Trees


Meeting at a Liberty Tree

Why ‘Liberty Trees’ Became an Obsession After the Revolutionary War

At first, colonists used trees as meeting places to protest & plan resistance, then their significance grrew /

History tells us that when the Marquis de Lafayette visited the United States in 1824 & 1825, there was a can’t-miss destination on his itinerary. Now gnarled with age, the beloved general would receive a hero’s welcome as he crisscrossed the United States he had helped create. It was a farewell tour & a nod to a country that was now 50 years old. And the Marquis knew exactly what he wanted to see in Boston—a tree stump.

It wasn’t just any tree: It was a potent symbol of freedom that had special significance for those who participated in the rebellion. Boston’s Liberty Tree was just one of dozens, perhaps even hundreds, all over the 13 colonies. And they weren’t just famous in the new United States: The symbolic plants were known worldwide.

Even as a stump, the place where Boston’s Liberty Tree had once stood held special significance. “The world should never forget the spot where once stood the Liberty Tree so famous in your annals,” said Lafayette. Three cheers rang out as his carriage passed the place where the tree had once stood.

How the Sons of Liberty Helped Ignite the Revolution

In the 18th century, people often used natural landmarks like trees as meeting places, & trees were important points of reference. They also held symbolic power: As historian Alfred R. Young notes, English lore contains plenty of stories of trees tied to political events, & “trees in general were much venerated by colonists.”

It makes sense, then, that trees took on special importance when those colonists started to rebel. In 1765, a group of nine patriots who called themselves the Loyal Nine—a precursor of the Sons of Liberty—began to plan resistance to the Stamp Act.

The hated law, which was administered by a public official named Andrew Oliver, required colonists to pay taxes on everything from newspapers to playing cards. It was the first tax ever levied on the colonies, & it felt like an affront to businessmen like the Loyal Nine. In secret, they planned a series of protests that would become the first public acts of resistance to the English Crown.

Angry Colonists Meeting Around An Elm Tree in Boston, Massachusetts

They chose an old elm tree at the corner of what is now Essex & Washington Streets as the site of their first protest. On August 14, 1765, they hung an effigy of Oliver on the tree along with other symbols of the Stamp Act. As a mob grew, they beheaded & burned the symbol before heading to Oliver’s house. A few weeks later, a copper plate appeared on the tree, declaring it the “Tree of Liberty.”

Angry colonists now had a voice—& a symbol. They began to meet regularly beneath the tree, & its fame quickly spread to other colonies. Soon, cities as far as Rhode Island & Maryland had named their own liberty trees.

The trees had cousins: Liberty poles. They were less decorative than trees, but they had a similar function. Erected all over the rebellious colonies, the mast-like poles were places to post broadsides about the Crown’s tyranny & to gather for protests, speeches & political meetings.

“A Liberty Pole had no roots,” writes historian David Hackett Fischer. “It could be constructed anywhere on the spur of the moment & in many different sizes.” Some were even taller than colonial cities’ largest buildings, Fischer writes, & they were often the sites of riots & rivalries over who could tear down the mast & who could erect another.

As symbols of the rebellion, plenty was at stake when it came to these trees & poles. The colonial government & the British military knew it, & used it to their advantage. In 1775, for example, British soldiers punished Thomas Ditson, a farmer who had tried to purchase a musket from a soldier, by stripping him down, tarring & feathering him, & forcing him to parade past the Liberty Tree wearing a sign that read, in part, “American Liberty (or Democracy) exemplified in a Villain.”

By that time, liberty trees were so well known that they had become landmarks in & of themselves. But later in 1775, the beloved Boston elm tree, which was nearly 130 years old, paid the price for its fame when a group of loyalists & British soldiers tore it down.

The loyalists “made a furious attack on it,” reported a local paper. “After a long spell of groaning, swearing, & foaming, with malice diabolical they cut down a tree because it bore the name of ‘Liberty.’” The tree provided 14 cords of wood that were used to heat buildings used by the army.

Defiant to the end, the colonists simply renamed the tree “Liberty Stump,” erected a pole there, & continued to revere it. Other liberty trees met with happier fates & lasted well into the 20th century; New York’s was only cut down in 1999, & a tree in Annapolis is being restored using grafting & the cultivation of new seedlings.

Even after the revolution, liberty trees remained a potent symbol of the power of rebellion & public protest. When revolution broke out in France in 1789, revolutionaries began to name & plant their own liberty trees, & the custom also sprang up in Italy & Germany.

What started as a simple meeting place had branched into a tradition as inspiring as it was famous.

See: History.com By Erin Blakemore June 13, 2023

Today is Arbor Day. Where Did It Originate?


 What is Arbor Day?

Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals & groups are encouraged to plant trees. Today, many countries observe such a holiday. Though usually observed in the spring, the date varies, depending on climate & suitable planting season.

The First Arbor Day

The Spanish village of Mondoñedo held the 1st documented arbor plantation festival in the world organized & promoted by its mayor in 1569. The place remains as Alameda de los Remedios & it is still planted with lime & horse-chestnut trees. 


Rows of Horse-Chestnut_ &_Common Lime Trees

Located at the entrance to the city at the foot of the Remedios Sanctuary, it has the peculiarity of being one of the oldest in Spain, where the 1st Tree Festival in Spain was celebrated on February 4, 1569. There is a monolith that commemorates this unique celebration in one of its gardens. Today a humble granite marker & a bronze plate recall the event. 

 Alameda de los Remedios 

Centuries later the small Spanish village of Villanueva de la Sierra held the 1st modern Arbor Day, an initiative launched in 1805 by the local priest with the enthusiastic support of the entire population.

Madrid Professor Miguel Herrero Uceda writes: "While Napoleon was ravaging Europe with his ambition, in this village in the Sierra de Gata lived a priest, don Juan Abern Samtrés, who...convinced of the importance of trees for health, hygiene, decoration, nature, environment & customs, decided to plant trees in a festive air. The festival began on Carnival Tuesday with the ringing of 2 bells of the church... After the Mass, & coated with church ornaments, don Juan, accompanied by other clergies, teachers & a large number of neighbors, planted the 1st tree, a poplar, in the place known as Valley of the Ejido. Tree planting continued by Arroyada & Fuente de la Mora. Afterwards, there was a feast, & ...dance. The party & plantations lasted 3 days. He drafted a manifesto in defence of the trees that was sent to surrounding towns to spread the love & respect for nature, & also he advised them to make tree plantations in their localities."


 Julius Sterling Morton (1832–1902) 

The 1st American Arbor Day originated in Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton. On April 10, 1872, an estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska. Julius Sterling Morton (1832–1902) was a Nebraska newspaper editor & politician who served as President Grover Cleveland's secretary of agriculture. He founded the nation's Arbor Day in 1872. His son, Joy Morton, founder of the Morton Salt Company, also created the 1,700 acre Morton Arboretum outside of Chicago which now has over 4,000 different types of trees, shrubs, & other woody plants.

Dr. Birdsey Grant Northrop (1817-1898) 

A decade later, Dr. Birdsey Grant Northrop (1817-1898) of Kent, Connecticut, was largely responsible for popularizing the idea across the globe. An avid proponent of trees in the community landscape, he brought attention to Arbor Day in the world community during a visit to Japan in 1883 where he delivered a village improvement speech,  stressed the importance of trees and promoted Arbor Day to the Japanese. He also delivered his Arbor Day message to Europe, Canada, and Australia. Dr. Northrop, a theologian by degree from Yale and advocate for better education and public life, authored 70 works in 159 publications in 2 languages on education, the importance of forestry, rural improvement, and town planning.

In 1883, the American Forestry Association made Dr. Northrop the Chairman of the committee to campaign for Arbor Day nationwide.

 Major Israel McCreight (1865-1958) 

Beginning in 1906, Major Israel McCreight (1865-1958) of DuBois, Pennsylvania, argued that President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation speeches were limited to businessmen in the lumber industry & recommended a campaign of youth education plus a national policy on conservation education. McCreight urged Roosevelt to make a public statement to school children about trees & the destruction of American forests. 

President Theodore Roosevelt planting a tree in Fort Worth, 1905.

Conservationist Gifford Pinchot, Chief of the United States Forest Service, embraced McCreight’s recommendations & asked the President to speak to the public school children of the United States about conservation. On April 15, 1907, Roosevelt issued an "Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States" about the importance of trees & that forestry deserves to be taught in U.S. schools. Pinchot wrote McCreight, "we shall all be indebted to you for having made the suggestion."

 School Children Planting Trees

President Theodore Roosevelt, delivered the "Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States" on April 15, 1907.  Here is an excerpt: "...A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as helpless; forests which are so used that they can not renew themselves will soon vanish, & with them all their benefits....When you help to preserve our forests or plant new ones you are acting the part of good citizens. The value of forestry deserves, therefore, to be taught in the schools, which aim to make good citizens of you. If your Arbor Day exercises help you to realize what benefits each one of you receives from the forests, & how by your assistance these benefits may continue, they will serve a good end."

Thursday, April 25, 2024

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. Follow-up of the case is also included, if needed.

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

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

17C Mythical Goddess Flora by William Faithorne c 1656-1701

 
Goddess Flora  by William Faithorne c 1656-1701. William Faithorne the Younger (1656–c.1701) was an English mezzotint engraver. He was born in London, the eldest son of William Faithorne the Elder. The prints reach into the reign Queen Anne; moreover his earlier pieces are inscribed "W. Faithorne, junior". The exact year of his death is unknown; it is said, he was buried in St. Martin's Churchyard, from the house of "Mr. Will. Copper in Half Moon Street, Covent Garden."

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

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. Follow-up of the case is also included, if needed.

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

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

Goddess Flora by Jan Brueghel the Elder & Peter Paul Rubens, 1617


Flora and Zephyr, by Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens, 1617

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, the last 3 days of April  & the first 3 days of May. The festival 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 Romans walked around holding bouquets of flowers or wore wreaths of flowers around their neck or in their hair.

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)

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

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. Follow-up of the case is also included, if needed.

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

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

17C Mythical Goddess Flora Goddess of Flowers by Luca Giordano & Andrea Belvedere


Luca Giordano & Andrea Belvedere, Flora, Goddess of Flowers, Ca. 1697. This is a collaborative work between 2 Neapolitan artists, Luca Giordano (Naples, Italy, 1634 - Naples, Italy), 1705 -a painter very popular with the Spanish court under Charles II- & Andrea Belvedere (Naples, 1652 - Naples, 1732.) Belvedere is now believed to be responsible for the flowers, the minute & precise brushstrokes of which are completely unlike Giordano´s signature style, ruling out his role in their execution. 

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston tells us that "In ancient mythology, there was a god & goddess for everything; anything from the generic deity above all others to love to home life...One mythology painting is from the collection of the Museo Nacional del Prado in Spain. The Goddess Flora (La Diosa Flora), Luca Giordano & Andrea Belvedere, c. 1697... 

"Luca Giordano was considered a very popular Spanish painter within the Spanish court under Charles II. While, Andrea Belvedere, who lived in Spain from c. 1694 to c. 1700 was believed to be called from his home in Naples, Italy, by Giordano himself, to paint for the Spanish court. The work is supposedly one of several collaborations between Giordano (who painted the goddess Flora & the seated women) & Belvedere (who executed all the intricate flowers)...

"The Goddess Flora...depicts the goddess sitting on a raised throne surrounded by 4 women, with whom she shares various, colorful flowers. These are taken from a massive, overflowing cornucopia in her left arm...

"All 5 women are dressed mostly in “classical”clothing, but have touches of contemporary pieces...The maiden to Flora’s right wears a simple string of pearls around her neck; & another maiden has a pair of pearl, teardrop-shaped earrings on. Compared to the muted tones of the clothing of the 5 women, the flowers are vibrantly painted & dominate the color scheme of the whole piece...The flowers easily show us the contrasts in the styles of Giordano & Belvedere.

"The 4 women, whose dresses are of completely different colors, together as a group may, in theory, represent the “Four Seasons”. The woman on the right of Flora wears a garland of flowers in her hair & another woman, to Flora’s left, gathers a rather large bundle of flowers. They easily could represent Spring & Summer. Yet another woman is in a rust-colored dress...would be Autumn. Finally, the last woman with no flowers could be Winter.

"Paintings like this were a favorite subject of art commissioned for royalty all over the world, as a passion for the story; as much as, the use of that myth to elevate themselves as divinely-appointed rulers..."

Posted 13th February 2013 by Christopher M. Hammel
The "Unofficial" Blog of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Monday, April 22, 2024

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. Follow-up of the case is also included, if needed.

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

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

"Passover & Palm Sunday" - Passover History from the Hebrew Bible, Christianity, & the Ancient Near East

Passover Preparations in the Sister Haggadah. British Library (Public Domain)

Unleavened bread, matzo or matzah, is a type of bread that is made without yeast or any other leavening agent. It is typically made from flour & water & is often eaten during the Jewish holiday of Passover, where it symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt & the lack of time to let their bread rise. The Bible does not specify which grains were used for this bread, but it is likely that the bread mentioned in the Bible was made from wheat, barley, or spelt, which were common grains in the ancient Near East.

Bitter herbs are a variety of herbs that are eaten during the Passover Seder to symbolize the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. The bitter herbs are typically dipped in salt water before eating to represent the tears shed during the Israelites' slavery in Egypt.

The Bible does not specify which grains were used for this unleavened bread, but it is likely that the bread mentioned in the Bible was made from wheat, barley, or spelt, which were common grains in the ancient Near East.

Bitter herbs are oftren a combination of herbs that are eaten during the Passover Seder to symbolize the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. The bitter herbs are often dipped in salt water before eating to represent the tears shed during the Israelites' slavery in Egypt.

The Mishnah specifies 5 types of bitter herbs eaten on the night of Passover: ḥazzeret (lettuce), ʿuleshīn (endive/chicory), temakha, ḥarḥavina (possibly melilot, or Eryngium creticum), & maror (likely Sonchus oleraceus, sowthistle). 

Hazzeret

Hazzeret isthought to be a domestic lettuce. The word is cognate to other Near-Eastern terms for lettuce: the Talmud identifies hazzeret as hassa, similar to the Akkadian hassu & the Arabic hash.

The Talmud remarks that Romaine lettuce is not initially bitter, but becomes so later on, which is symbolic of the experience of the Jews in Egypt. The "later" bitterness of lettuce refers to fact that lettuce plants become bitter after they "bolt" (flower), a process which occurs naturally when days lengthen or temperatures rise.

Wild or prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola) is listed in Tosefta Pisha as suitable for maror.  However, its absence from the approved list in the Mishnah & Talmud indicate that it is not suitable.

`Ulshin

The second species listed in the Mishnah is `ulshin, which is a plural to refer to both wild & cultivated types of plants in the genus Cichorium. The term is cognate to other near-eastern terms for endives.

Tamcha

The Talmud Yershalmi identified Hebrew tamcha with Greek γιγγίδιον gingídion, which has been positively identified via the illustration in the Vienna Dioscurides as the wild carrot Daucus gingidium.

Horseradish likely began to be used later, because leafy vegetables like lettuce did not grow in the northern climates Ashkenazi Jews had migrated to, & because some sources allow the use of any bitter substance. 

Many Jews use horseradish condiment (a mixture of cooked horseradish, beetroot & sugar), though the Shulchan Aruch requires that maror be used as is, that is raw, & not cooked or mixed with salt, vinegar, sugar, lemon, or beets.

Harhavina

The identity of harhavina is somewhat disputed. It may be melilot or Eryngium creticum.

Maror

The identity of this species was preserved among the Jews of Yemen as the plant Sonchus oleraceus, a relative of dandelion native to Israel. The word "maror" is an autohyponym, referring both to this species specifically, & to any species suitable for use at the Seder.

Passover in the Hebrew Bible by William Brown 

Passover is a Jewish festival celebrated since at least the 5C BCE, typically associated with the tradition of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.  The festival was originally celebrated on the 14th of Nissan. Directly after Passover is the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which most traditions describe as originating when the Israelites left Egypt, & they did not have sufficient time to add yeast to the bread to allow it to rise. 

Though the Hebrew Bible describes the origins of Passover, these texts were likely composed after the 6C BCE & include evidence for editorial additions, expansions of older texts. Three characteristics emerge concerning the nature of Passover as represented in the Hebrew Bible:

Passover is associated with Yahweh, though not necessarily Yahweh's leading the Israelites out of Egypt or passing over the doorposts of their households. In analyzing & proposing a history for the textual growth of Exodus 12:1-28, Professors Simeon Chavel & Mira Balberg suggest that the oldest layer of text in Exodus 12 does not feature "Israel's liberation through Yahweh's smiting of Egypt & does not explicitly advance it" (Chavel 2018, 299), essentially characterizing it as an ambiguous piece of folklore about a festival.

Subsequent editors provided further ritual parameters & explanation of Yahweh's actions: all Israelite families must participate in consuming a one-year-old male lamb; the lamb should be flame-broiled, entirely consumed by the morning after Passover, & eaten quickly; & Yahweh will skip over or shield the Israelite households who put the lamb's blood on the doorpost from a destructive force killing their firstborn. Exodus 12:27, a response to the question concerning the purpose of celebrating Passover in future generations, best demonstrates the association between Passover & the killing of every firstborn in Egypt: “It is a Passover sacrifice for Yahweh, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when smiting Egypt; but he rescued our homes.” Passover was intended to be a performance & remembrance of Yahweh's act of protecting the firstborns of Israel while in Egypt, itself a sign of Yahweh's devotion to the Israelites.

Though Passover is often perceived as a unified, traditional ritual, Biblical passages describe  divergent rituals & reflect changes over time in the historical context.

The rituals concerning the actions on Passover develop throughout the Hebrew Bible such as this example, in Exodus 12:9.  Moses commands the Israelites to roast with fire the Passover lamb sacrifice, explicitly indicating they should not boil it with water. Yet, Deuteronomy 6:7 includes the command “you shall boil” the Passover sacrifice. Then, the author of Chronicles creatively combined the required ritual actions: “So, they boiled the Passover-lamb with fire according to the ordinance” (35:13).  Subsequent generations adjusted Passover ritual traditions.

Third, texts in the Hebrew Bible adjust the date of Passover for distinct reasons. Numbers 9:1-14, for example, offers provisions for Israelites who may have missed their opportunity to participate in Passover due to ritual uncleanliness (9:7, 10). Alternatively, Yahweh communicates through Moses that a 2nd Passover celebration is possible. Instead of celebrating on the 14th day of the 1st month, they should celebrate on the 14th day of the 2nd month. There remains an assumption, though, that all Israelites should celebrate Passover: "But the man who is pure, not on a journey, & neglects to perform the Passover, that person should be cut off from his people because he did not bring the offering of Yahweh at its appointed time." (Numbers 9:13).

The book of 2 Chronicles 30 describes Hezekiah's attempt to cause all of Judah & Israel to perform Passover. The text describes that they celebrated it on the 14th of the second month due to the lack of priests available & people present (2 Chronicles 30:2-3). Numbers 9 understands Passover to be an obligation incumbent on the Israelites; when 2 Chronicles 30 was composed, Passover was not perceived to be an obligation upon Israel & Judah.

Exodus 12 presents Passover as a celebration restricted to the households of Egypt (Exodus 12:1-13). Deuteronomy 16 indicates that Passover should be celebrated not at the home: “and you shall sacrifice a Passover-offering to Yahweh, either a sheep or a cattle, at the place which Yahweh will select as a dwelling for his name” (Deuteronomy 16:2), specifically clarifying in Deuteronomy 16:5 that the sacrifice should not be offered locally. When Exodus 12 was composed, Passover was practiced in local towns & households; by contrast, when Deuteronomy 16 was composed, Passover was more regulated, imagined to be practiced in a central temple or sanctuary.

Biblical passages describe divergent rituals, reflect the growth of the Passover tradition, & illuminate changes in the historical context.

Practicing Passover across the Centuries

Early Judaism (c. 5C BCE - 1st C CE)  In a group of texts called the Elephantine Papyri, written by members of the 5C BCE Jewish colony of Elephantine, Egypt, Passover is mentioned multiple times. indicating that Jews at Elephantine practiced some form of Passover. Unlike the biblical texts, the Elephantine Papyri can be more precisely dated affirming that Passover was a social practice among some Jews in the 5C BCE.

Composed in the 2C BCE, the Book of Jubilees is a rewritten version of Genesis & Exodus. One goal of Jubilees is to clarify the Jewish calendar for celebrating festivals. The book of Genesis narrates a story about how Yahweh tested Abraham by commanding him to kill his only son, providing a ram at the last minute. Jubilees 19:18, though, additionally describes how Abraham celebrated a festival for Yahweh after Yahweh provided a ram in lieu of having to sacrifice Isaac, his firstborn. The festival is the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is typically associated with Passover, occurring 7 days following Passover. Jubilees establishes that the Festival of Unleavened Bread, thar Passover, was established prior to the Israelite exodus out of Egypt.

Passover in Early Christianity (c. 1C CE to 3C CE)

Passover plays a central role in the growth of Christianity as a distinct religious tradition from Judaism. By the 1C CE, Josephus & the Gospels indicate that Passover drew large crowds of Jews to Jerusalem, the central cult site for the celebration of Passover. Jesus he was a practicing Jew who lived in the 1C CE.

Jesus & The Last Supper

John 19:31 portrays Jesus as a Passover lamb, whose sacrifice would ultimately cause God to redeem humanity. Paul explicitly describes Jesus as a Passover lamb as he extends the imagery of unleavened bread metaphorically into the realm of morality (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Similar depictions of Jesus appear in 1 Peter 1:19 & Revelation 5:6. The association of Jesus' death with the Passover sacrifice “points to an understanding of the sacrifices of the Passover lamb as the remembrance of God's past act of redemption that foreshadowed the sacrifice of the Lamb of God as God's ultimate act of redemption” (Mangum 2016). Early Christians, who perceived themselves as practicing Jews, reframed the traditional narrative of Passover to highlight Jesus as a redemptive figure for all of humanity.

Rabbinic Judaism (c 1C CE to 7C CE)

Rabbinic Judaism developed, in response to the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE. Without the temple, Jews could no longer offer sacrifices. It is from this context which Rabbinic Judaism emerged, providing ways to worship God & perform the various ritual festivals even though the Jewish temple was no longer standing. Rabbinic Judaism sought to establish “that the Passover celebration can & should continue even without the paschal lamb,” that is the Passover lamb (Bokser 1984, 48). Although ancient Israelite & Judean religion, along with Early Judaism, perceived the temple to be central to their worship, the destruction of the Jewish temple in 70 CE forced the Rabbis to reconsider how they would perform their ancient rituals. 

The Tosefta, a Rabbinic Jewish text of codified traditions & laws (3C CE), discusses the role of unleavened bread & bitter herbs, two foods mentioned in Exodus 12:8: “They shall eat the flesh that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire, with unleavened bread & with bitter herbs” (Exodus 12:8; 1985 JPS Translation). Because this passage indicates that 3 things are eaten together, namely the Passover lamb, bitter herbs, & unleavened bread, the Rabbis equated bitter herbs & unleavened bread with the Passover sacrifice. 

Passover in the Ancient Near East

Passover as a festival is reflective of its broader ancient Near Eastern context in the use of blood at the entrance of the house combined with regard to the firstborn. One of the fundamental aspects of Passover is putting the blood of the Passover lamb upon the gateposts of the household, that is the front entrance: They shall take from the blood of the Passover lamb & put it upon the two doorposts & upon the upper-cross piece of the door upon the house within which they will eat it among them. (Exodus 12:7)

Applying the blood onto the door of the household warded off negative influences. In the context of Exodus 12, the “negative influence” is reference yo the destructive force which kills every firstborn.

Likewise, the Arslan Tash amulet from the 7C BCE discovered in Syria, includes a reference to “doorposts:”  “And let him not come down to the door-posts.” Here, the “doorposts” are the boundary into the home, the location where the amulet was possibly placed for preventing negative influences on the household. 

Additionally, a ritual called zukru, from a text discovered in Emar, Syria, shows remarkable similarities to Passover. First, both festivals began on the 14th day of the 1st month, lasting 7 days. Second, the ritual for Passover & zukru both involve the smearing of blood on posts – the posts in Passover are to the house, the posts in zukru are at the city gates. Third, zukru is primarily a festival of “(the offering of) the (firstborn) male animals” to Dagan, a Syrian deity (Cohen 2015, 336). Likewise, Exodus 34:19 associates Passover with the offering of firstborn animals. The speaker, Yahweh, says: “All first-born of a womb are mine, as well as your male livestock, the first born of cattle & sheep.” These passages demonstrate that Passover rituals are similar to broader ancient Near Eastern traditions.

19C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Gustave Jean Jacquet (French artist, 1846-1909) 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)

"Passover" - Judaism Religious Rituals depicted in 1707


Hanukkah, Festival of Lights 

These woodcuts illustrate Judaism holiday & ritual observances in the 1707 Minhagim (Customs), published by Solomon Proops, Amsterdam, with descriptions & instructions in Yiddish, offer a glimpse of Judaism life at the end of the 17C & the beginning of the 18C in central Europe.

The woodcuts in the book cover Sabbath & holiday observance, & home & synagogue rituals. Among them area mother blessing the Sabbath lights of a Sabbath oil lamp;a father chanting the Havdalah (service of "separation" at the conclusion of the Sabbath), while he holds a cup of wine by the light of a candle held by a child whose sibling holds a spice box; 4 men blessing the new moon;a rabbi preaching on the Great Sabbath (preceding Passover); grinding flour for & baking matzoh; searching for chametz (leaven); & scouring pots & pans. Also shown are a man having his hair cut on Lag B'Omer--the 33rd day of the 50 between Passover & Shavuot, when restrictions obtaining during that period of mourning are relaxed; Moses on Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments; worshipers seated on the floor on Tisha B'Av, mourning the destruction of the Temple; the sounding of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, the New Year; a man building his tabernacle for the Feast of Tabernacles; the gathering of palms, willows, & myrtle to join the citron in its celebration; children receiving sweets to celebrate the Joy of the Law, Simhat Torah; the kindling of a Hanukkah lamp; & Purim jesters sounding their musical instruments.

The life cycle is also marked: bride & groom under the huppah (canopy); an infant boy entering the Covenant of Abraham; & finally, a body borne in a coffin to its eternal resting place. These are some of the 1707 woodcuts:

Blessing the Sabbath Candles


The Havdalah Service


Sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashana


The Lulav: Palm Branch, Myrtle, and Willow


The Merry Festival of Purim


Removing the Leaven from the Home


Under the Huppah, the Wedding Service


Brit Milah, the Circumcision


Carrying the Deceased to the Cemetery

Sunday, April 21, 2024

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. Follow-up of the case is also included, if needed.

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

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring


Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Porträt der Marquise de Gueydan  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) 

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

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 "stop to smell the flowers" came into popular modern use in the 1960s & is a rephrasing of a sentiment found in a 1956 autobiography written by the golfer Walter Hagen: “Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Portrait Of Françoise D'Escravayat, Marquise De La Barrière 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)

Friday, April 19, 2024

Earth's Creatures Stop to Smell the Flowers

 “The beautiful Spring came, & when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” – Harriet Ann Jacobs

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.