Stargazer and Blue Moon

This past week, some friends gave me a beautiful flower out of their garden.  I was introduced to the Stargazer Lily.  It is beautiful to look at and the aroma fills the air with its fragrance.  To put the lily on display, I felt it needed a special vase and what better than a wine glass for a unique photo.  It also motivated me to find out more about this flower.

It is a combination of the Oriental and Asiatic lilies and the result is the best of both worlds in this exotic hybrid.  Leslie Woodruff, an American lily grower and breeder, introduced this creation - the stargazer lily in 1978.  He named it "stargazer" because of the way the blooms of this lily point toward the sky.  The stargazer lily can also be called heaven scent for its fragrance. 

It is a symbol of perfection, high hopes, optimism and limitless possibilities.  It also represents prosperity and abundance, conveying a message of honor.  It can symbolize the fulfillment of a dream.  It is an exquisite flower with positive meanings in the mystical ideas of symbolism.  But there is one thing that is in its disfavor - the stargazer lily is toxic to cats!  Beware and don't let your feline friends try a taste of this lily......

As we lift our eyes from the stargazer lily and look heavenward, a rare event occurred in July - two full moons in the same month.  On July 31, we were treated to a blue moon.  Of course I was out with my camera trying to get a good shot of a so called blue moon.  Disappointed, I saw that it was the ordinary standard moon color.  Of course I rushed to google to find out why the moon wasn't blue.  Google sources stated that when a moon does take on a bluish hue, it is because of smoke or dust particles in the atmosphere.  Since there are no raging wildfires happening in our area right now... thank God!... I won't be able to test out that theory of a blue hued moon.  I took the below photos at different times - late night and early morning shots, looking for any change in color.  As you can tell there is not much difference except the early morning has a lighter tone to it. Also the pock marks of the moon are a little different in position as the moon orbited the earth from the Eastern to the Western horizons when I took these shots.  And yes, the expression of "once in a blue moon" means a rare event.
 

July 31, 2015 around 10:30 p.m.

August 1, 2015 around 3:30 a.m.

I close this post with a few photos a little closer to earth!  These were taken on Highway 26 between John Day and Prairie City.   A horticulture business cleverly put together an old truck loaded with flowers and a fake figure waving to ongoing traffic.  It does catch your attention in advertising their nursery.  A wagon behind the truck was overflowing with color produced by gorgeous blossoms.  It's quite a sight and makes you want to stop and take a closer look for a photo or consider purchasing a few of their variety of plants, flowers or trees.

 

Here is a quote by Jim Lovell (former astronaut) to ponder on:  "The lunar flights give you a correct perception of our existence.  You look back at Earth from the moon, and you can put your thumb up to the window and hide the Earth behind your thumb.  Everything you've ever known is behind your thumb, and that blue-and-white ball is orbiting a rather normal star, tucked away on the outer edge of a galaxy."

Whether it be a stargazer lily, a blue moon, galaxies, earth or summer blossoms, God is all in all!

Let's meet again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, August 17.   Until then enjoy these August days and experience special moments along the way....

 

 

With its exotic good looks and heavenly fragrance, Stargazer makes a real showing in the garden… or in a vase. Huge, 6–7" flowers appear in abundance and turn their gorgeous faces to the sky. Their brilliant pink petals are liberally freckled with dark pink and feature snowy-white edging.

With their breathtaking beauty and sweet perfume, - See more at: http://www.brecks.com/product/Stargazer-Lily/Lily_Flower_Bulbs_#sthash.m8gjdHPb.dpuf

With its exotic good looks and heavenly fragrance, Stargazer makes a real showing in the garden… or in a vase. Huge, 6–7" flowers appear in abundance and turn their gorgeous faces to the sky. Their brilliant pink petals are liberally freckled with dark pink and feature snowy-white edging.

With their breathtaking beauty and sweet perfume, - See more at: http://www.brecks.com/product/Stargazer-Lily/Lily_Flower_Bulbs_#sthash.m8gjdHPb.dpuf

With its exotic good looks and heavenly fragrance, Stargazer makes a real showing in the garden… or in a vase. Huge, 6–7" flowers appear in abundance and turn their gorgeous faces to the sky. Their brilliant pink petals are liberally freckled with dark pink and feature snowy-white edging.

With their breathtaking beauty and sweet perfume - See more at: http://www.brecks.com/product/Stargazer-Lily/Lily_Flower_Bulbs_#sthash.JNS6QVCR.dpulflflflflflf