That is Max. He bites his nails.
Today, the first poppy flowered in my little slightly sun-burned garden. Last night there was not a poppy in sight. Today it stretched up about 20cm from it's leafy foundation. It kind of freaked me out really.
Poppies are the international emblem of Remembrance Day, worn close to the heart to remind us of these we have lost, symbolising eternal, peaceful sleep.
This wobbly little poppy has a lot on it's shoulders, I think.
I've always been one of those people that bought the pricey $5 Poppy pin from the cute old RSL guy outside Coles. Like most people, I have relatives who never returned from war. That poppy was an important reminder to celebrate the lives of those important people.
But now, in my neck of the woods, things have amped up a bit, in terms of floral tributes. I'm sharing my Poppy with those we lost that firey weekend. I want to be sure I have a symbol of remembrance that's as enduring as it is pretty. And each time a little poppy flowers in my garden, I am going to think not only about relatives lost to the wars, I'm going to think about the hard times people have been through, and are going through after the fires.
Not only am I going to think about it and talk about it, I'm going to try my hardest to be doing stuff to help too. Today. Next month. Next year. Because we must remember to keep helping these people, in ways that are meaningful to us. Yes we must.
xx Pip
You could plant some poppies too? If they can bloom in the trenches of World War 1, they might just survive in your garden, right?
Edit - Real life requests for help can be found here - updating constantly
Poppies are the international emblem of Remembrance Day, worn close to the heart to remind us of these we have lost, symbolising eternal, peaceful sleep.
This wobbly little poppy has a lot on it's shoulders, I think.
I've always been one of those people that bought the pricey $5 Poppy pin from the cute old RSL guy outside Coles. Like most people, I have relatives who never returned from war. That poppy was an important reminder to celebrate the lives of those important people.
But now, in my neck of the woods, things have amped up a bit, in terms of floral tributes. I'm sharing my Poppy with those we lost that firey weekend. I want to be sure I have a symbol of remembrance that's as enduring as it is pretty. And each time a little poppy flowers in my garden, I am going to think not only about relatives lost to the wars, I'm going to think about the hard times people have been through, and are going through after the fires.
Not only am I going to think about it and talk about it, I'm going to try my hardest to be doing stuff to help too. Today. Next month. Next year. Because we must remember to keep helping these people, in ways that are meaningful to us. Yes we must.
xx Pip
You could plant some poppies too? If they can bloom in the trenches of World War 1, they might just survive in your garden, right?
Edit - Real life requests for help can be found here - updating constantly
This post nearly made me cry. Pip, thank you so much for all of your gentle hints and tips - reminding us to look for the "meaningful" ways to remember and help during this time and into the future.
ReplyDeleteI would like to plant a poppy too, if it can grow in your city scape, for sure it will grow in my little green garden.
xo
i lived in melbourne for 5 years and i am so glad to stumble onto this
ReplyDeletei will definetely be sending a few things from japan to donate to the drives you are currently doing
that poppy, oh it means a lot.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Pip, thanks. i too lost relatives in both world wars & my husband will be going back to war within the year, so it's still very real to we Army wives in this millenium. We grow rosemary, poppies are more challenging & we move every 2 years, we've had a lot of success with rosemary. Thanks again, love Posie
ReplyDeleteDoes it go without saying that I love a Poppy?! Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteThat poppy is wild (and I mean that as in awesome - or ors as you say). Wow. Very inspiring lady! I love it. Maybe I can tame my black thumb with some poppies.
ReplyDelete