TODAY'S PHOTO -
shell ginger flower buds from a variegated shell ginger plant in a plastic water bottle.
The other day I suddenly noticed that several plants in our back bedding were flowering for the first time since they had been planted a year and a half ago. I also became aware that the croton plant in that bedding was getting strangled and, almost, obliterated by these ginger plants. See GINGER PLANTS.
I started doing a rigorous trimming of the leaves and unintentionally clipped one stem that had buds. I grabbed a water bottle that had been outside and stuck the stem in to see if it could be preserved, hoping that the flowers might ultimately open.
I took a photo to simply document it. Then when I saw the picture on my monitor, I was fascinated by the angles, the lines in the bottle and how well the shape of the not-paid-attention to, white underside of the cut-off label fit in. The effects and feeling of the late afternoon sunlight also appealed to me.
SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES -
A couple of totally different things came up for me with today's photo experience. I will focus on only one here now- my "righteousness." I suspect many of you might be able to identify with it.
A participant in the current Photo/Creativity teleclass had posted a photo which she labelled "ginger." Instead of being pleased with now knowing the identity of a few of my backyard plants, my automatic "make-wrong" button kicked in.
My unexpressed thoughts consisted of, "I've seen ginger plants. I've photographed the flowers and posted a few different ones in past issues of Picture to Ponder. None of them look like what she is showing. She must be wrong."
I was almost positive that she was mistaken. On the other hand, I wanted to use the photos referenced above and wished to have an accurate identity. So, now, a few days later, I decided to check the image out in "google images"
and found, to my obvious surprise that I had been wrong. She was right. The plant is, in fact, a form of ginger and now I was excited at having learned something new.
Even though you knew nothing of my thoughts, B..., my apologies to you, for not trusting you
and making you wrong. Thank you for the plant identity as well as material for today's queries. I am most appreciative.
Now to you, dear readers, I invite you to notice the times when you go on automatic and make someone else wrong. Do you stay in that space or do you stop and relook at the situation? Is trust, or lack of it, ever an issue? Will becoming more aware of it make a difference and empower you?
If something comes up for you as you reflect on this, check to see if there is an action you can take regarding the situation. If so, I invite you to do it. Will you?
Remember to be light about it and have fun with it.
MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS -
If you are still searching for the perfect gift, mothers of all generations love the unique photo/drawing notecard sets featured in Nature's Playground - http://www.naturesplayground.com/cardsets.html. People give them expecting their mothers to use them for special notes and are often pleasantly surprised to find them framed (5" X 7") and hanging on walls when they next visit. You might make it easier and even add a frame or two to the gift.
Order by Wednesday noon, EDT, you should have by Saturday AND we can mail them directly for you with a note from you.
Also, if a late gift works, remember the beautiful gifts in our GIFT SHOP.
READERS' COMMENTS
Are welcome on the BLOG.
When you go there, you'll see the current issue and photo and a link at the end for Posting Comments. To see the photo
ENLARGED, at the same size you see it here, simply click
on it.
If posting on a blog is not your style, please continue to send your comments directly to me . Learning what you are experiencing means a lot. It is part of the reward of Picture to Ponder for me.
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Inspirationally,
Sheila
sheila@eteletours.com
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© 2006 Sheila Finkelstein
http://www.eteletours.com/ptpintro.html
©2005 - 2006 Sheila
Finkelstein - All photos and written content are copyright and, unless
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