It seemed to my friend
that the creation of a landscape-garden
offered to the proper muse
the most magnificent of opportunities.
Here indeed was the fairest field
for the display of the imagination,
in the endless combining of forms of novel beauty.
~Edgar Allan Poe
Purple, the most powerful wavelength of the rainbow, can be seen sometimes simply streaking the heavens, and it is mentioned at least 25 times in the Bible. Over the ages the color’s “novel beauty” has symbolized magic, mystery, spirituality, the sub-conscious, creativity, dignity, and royalty; statistics show that it has evoked all of those meanings more so than any other color. And yet the color purple is a rarity in nature so much so that its earliest dyes could be made only at great expense rendering it a color to be worn solely by kings, emperors, nobility, and priests. So when I find samplings of purple in my yard as I did yesterday, it feels as if honored guests have arrived at my “table.” Add to that the fact that pigments from these particular guests have been found in prehistoric depictions dating back 50,000 years and that those depictions were found where the Garden of Eden could have been, then the honored guests become not only venerable ones but also sacred ones. I sent out the invitations to these purple invitees last August after happening upon Crocus Sativus corms at a local nursery. Since I had long wanted to try growing the plants from which the spice saffron is obtained, I came home and immediately planted my 6 little corms and then came the watching and waiting for signs of life. But as the leaves began to fall and collect in the beds and I was spending less time outside, I’d almost forgotten about them until yesterday when I went out to get the mail. To my surprise I spied two of the beauties with their three crimson stigmas (saffron threads) pushing up from under a layer of leaves. Like a child I literally squealed with delight; it was as if I’d stepped into the Lord’s holy presence as He walked in His garden.
They put a purple robe on Him(Jesus), then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him. ~ Mark 15:17 ✝
Sacred Touches 
Pingback: 206. The more I wonder, the more I love. ~Alice Walker, author of THE COLOR PURPLE | Sacred Touches
Oh, the wonder of it all. And, yes, color purple is one of my favorites (book and movie, included) Blue flag (purple) is my favorite flower. Fleeting, yet fantastic… And the wonderful crocus even call to us through the snow here in New England.You’ve captured the wonder, Natalie! ☺
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Thanks for the kind words. You are always such an uplifting voice in my world. I’m glad you liked my post. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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Thanks, Bette. I was hoping my excitement would spread through my words. Natalie 🙂
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Hi Natalie–love the post—I wrote a blurb on purple back in June “Purple, the color”–it was the topic due to my blue hydrangea that started out as purple but in my soil, turned blue–I gave a little history about purple and then ventured to the finicky ph level sensitive hydrangeas….seems we’re often on the same wave length–color wave, get it 😉 tee hee…color cookie
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Oh, I love your little funny about the same wave length! Now, I shall go soon and read your post on purple. I love hydrangeas too, but in my soil they always bloom pink. I’m glad you liked my post and hope you’ve had a lovely day. I’ve gotten so far behind and am trying to catch up on reading posts like yours that are soon to be read. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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I wish I were there! Magnificent beauty! Wonderful post! Sorry I’ve been away dear, been recuperating from a dislocated shoulder ~ I love your blog Natalie ! Faithfully Debbie
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Oh my, I’m so sorry that you’ve been dealing with a dislocated shoulder. I’m sure it was very painful. Thank you for your kind words about my blog. I do hope you are better now. Blessings, Natalie 😉
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I wish you were too. I wanted to run all over the neighborhood sharing my find with everyone. I hope your shoulder is much better. Natalie 🙂
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Delightful post, Natalie! I left a big bed of purple bellflowers back in Nebraska and I sure miss them–they wouldn’t do well in my bright sunny. I’m so glad you got to see your little purples today! Blessings ~ Laura
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Thanks, Laura, I’m glad you liked it. I’ll bet your bellflowers were beautiful. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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How exciting, Natalie, to see these little treasures coming up! It’s very late in the year, isn’t it? Hope winter is kind on them 😉
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It was very exciting, Annette, but then in the garden it doesn’t take much to excite this child of the soil. The directions said they would bloom in late autumn so we’ll see how they do this very, very cold weekend coming. I hope you are well and doing great things in your book. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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Love the thoughtful post, Natalie. Purple – to take in as well as to wear – is also good for the liver.
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Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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It is amazing how we can get excited about the smallest things – possibly because they are the most meaningful! Your crocuses are very pretty, Natalie – Amelia 🙂
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