MIMOSA “Sensitiveness” Also known as the Sensitive Plant, because it closes its leaves when touched. According to the Greeks, it was originally a woman named Cephisa who, fleeing from Pan, was turned into a plant. She still shrinks from the touch of men. (And women, by the way.) Some books list “Sensibility” forContinue reading “Ranunculus to You, Mimosa to Nuts”
Author Archives: uncleblogsy
Obscure AND Famous
People have had their portraits on postcards for sundry reasons. Some are so famous that postcard companies print pictures of them, knowing the public will buy famous faces. Others pay to have postcards printed of them in HOPES of celebrity. Sometimes that worked and the people became famous enough that the postcard companies paidContinue reading “Obscure AND Famous”
What Day Is It?
So I thought I would spend a little time today on postcards showing one of the most popular of Christmas animals. I mean, of course…what’s that, Radish Ribbon Candy? The reindeer? Well, no. Actually, I have very few reindeer postcards in my inventory. That’s why I had to start this column off with anContinue reading “What Day Is It?”
Ranunculus to You: Lobelia to Millet
LOBELIA “Malevolence” I am told this can be poisonous if taken in large quantities. I do not wish to know who ate enough Lobelia to find that out. Our ancestors also called this Gagroot and Vomitroot, so apparently a lot of people tried it. LOCUST “Affection Beyond the Grave” LOCUST, HONEY “Sweetness” LONDON-PRIDE “Frivolity”Continue reading “Ranunculus to You: Lobelia to Millet”
Strays
I suppose I could look it up on the Interwebs and find out who gets credit for inventing situation comedy. Every writer has a different answer, I suppose, unless the world has divided into two camps, one arguing for Greek playwrights and another for medieval troubadours. But they did exist long before The Honeymooners. Continue reading “Strays”
Recipes for Turkeys (um….)
I was thinking of doing one more column discussing synonyms for the human seat which have turned up on postcards over the years, but as people have suggested they find this subject tiresome, we will move on to those turkey recipes I mentioned a couple of weeks ago instead. (Keeping in mind that thisContinue reading “Recipes for Turkeys (um….)”
Ranunculus to You: Larkspur to Liverwort
L LARKSPUR “Pensive Beauty” Lad’s Love: see SOUTHERNWOOD LADY’S MANTLE “Fashion” Plantlorists tend to make any reference to a lady in a flower name symbolic of the Virgin Mary. Floriographers seem not to have seen it that way. LADY’S SLIPPER “Capricious beauty” *LADY’S TRESSES “Bewitching Grace” LAGERSTRAEMIA “Eloquence” This is sometimes calledContinue reading “Ranunculus to You: Larkspur to Liverwort”
More Basic Humor
I know you had your hopes, but there are a LOT of postcards sitting around in the files. If people would get busy and BUY them, we could be chatting again about Turkey Liver Pizza. But though we nearly covered our “behinds” in the last column, there are other running gags in the worldContinue reading “More Basic Humor”
A Basic Joke
Well, Thanksgiving is past and we must now face the reality that Christmas is upon us. I have, myself, always stated that I DO love Christmas: I’m just not very good at it. So many things which used to be so simple have become difficult with the passage of time. For example, at myContinue reading “A Basic Joke”
Ranunculus to You, Ice Plant to Kudzu
I ICE PLANT “Your Looks Freeze Me” This is a plant which looks as if it has frost or ice on it, hence its name and meaning. Most books agree on this meaning, but Mme. De Latour had it with a slight difference. Both editions of her book which I have seen giveContinue reading “Ranunculus to You, Ice Plant to Kudzu”
Blogsy Babbles 