Lifestyle: Does Your Favorite Room Have a Name?

Is there are favorite room in your home where you go to relax, retreat, block out the rest of the world, or share a special space with someone?

OK. Before I get started I just want to say that I know what a casbah is.

• It’s a fortress in North Africa (and in some other parts of the world). It is a unique medina or Islamic city and the Kasbah of Algiers is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• “Casbah” is a word that I have heard in movies and in music. I watched an old movie, released in 1948 titled “Casbah” (1948) and it was set in Algiers. There was also a song I liked during my teen years called “Rock the Casbah” . Will Smith sampled it on one of his songs. (Will Smith feat. K-Ci’s ‘Will 2K’ — Discover the Sample Source)
• Casbah is also spelled kasbah, qasba, or qasaba.

When I hear the word “casbah”, I usually associate it with something really cool!

When I’m talking about casbah in this article, I’m going in a completely different but still cool direction from the usual meaning of the word and how it is commonly used.

JUST FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME.

Everybody likes to read articles or watch TV shows about the personal lives of celebrities. I kind of like shows where they show the homes where they live. The late Gregory Peck and his wife said they liked to spend time in a room in their house that they called “The Casbah”. It’s a place where they retreat.

Just then I had “Ah hah!” moment. I thought to myself:

‘It would be so cool to have a room in my house that I could call ‘The Casbah’.’

The best part would be decorating the room.

There would be thick rugs and huge comfy pillows. The décor would look Persian.

Yes. I know a casbah is a fortress and there are famous casbahs that are located in Morocco. Morocco is in northwest Africa and Persia (now Iran) is in southwestern Asia.

But it’s MY CASBAH! So if I want to decorate Persian or Iranian style, I will. LOL.

8 Inspiring Decor Ideas from Iran: This article says to use copper pots, some handwoven baskets, various types of hand-stitched cloth, sweet-smelling flowers, decorative rugs, and a Poshti (a decorative pillow for your back). (FYI. There is an excellent selection of poshtis on Etsy.)

At present, I live in an apartment with my sons. But if I ever get into a home again, I plan to have a home office/casbah. Yeah well! I figure I won’t be able to afford a house where I can have one room for my home office and another for a casbah.

Have you never named a room in your house?

• What is your favorite room in your home and why?
• What Your Favorite Room Says About Your Personality

Thanks for reading.

Original Source

Adding to My Collection for Tolkien Enthusiasts

One of my hobbies is collecting tidbits about Tolkien.  My first JDV blog post. "Bio Sketch of J. R. R. Tolkien, Author of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy", shared a link from a page I had published almost 10 years ago, along with some other links of interest.

Found an absolutely fabulous blog post to add to my collection, titled "Tolkien’s Angels: A question of belief".  This is from a blog published by Carolee Croft and it is a guest post written by epic fantasy author R K Lander.  

“If you are not a Tolkien geek, haven’t read the Silmarillion, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, or just haven’t read about elves in mythology, your impression of an elf is probably ... tall angels with long hair and flighty voices who dance to the lyre and cry woeful tears as epic poems are recited. They float angelically around majestic gardens of blooming flowers …” 

NOTE: Had to reshare this post not because it's a great addition to my collection for Tolkien enthusiasts but also because the images are simply irresistible and also I like angels and elves. Some are creatures of fantasy and some are very real. Do you know which is which?* You may disagree with me but let's not. Let's just enjoy these lovely images.  Shared the one above via Pinterest.  Here's another one from the post.  It's spectacular!  You must visit this lady's blog.  The whole blog is spectacular!

Via Joie de Vivre Magazine on Pinterest

~ Shared via Pinterest: http://ift.tt/2AN2CMg

Related articles about Tolkien and angels

• 'Lord of the Rings' TV Series Planned for Amazon(slashfilm.com)

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• Society and Culture : Do You Believe in Angels?(forumcoin.com)*

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• How Shadow of War Breaks Tolkien's Middle-Earth Lore(screenrant.com)

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• The Angels of Mons: A Perfect Hoax from World War One(wizzley.com)

Did You Know the History of the Poinsettia Flowers has Texas Ties?

Poinsettias: Texas' Mark on the Festive Flower

‘Tis the season of anticipation, and all around us are signs of the upcoming celebration.  In church courtyards, three wise men eagerly look upon still-empty mangers. Elsewhere, some unsuspecting Texans have already seen their first snowfall of the season – or even the decade.  All across the state, Christmas lights twinkle at nightfall, while during the day, vibrant red poinsettias keep the mood merry and bright.

Image credit:  glitter-graphics.com

Poinsettias have become a staple of the season, but did you know the Christmas flower has ties to the Texas border?

Image credit

In 1825, President John Quincy Adams appointed the first U.S. Minister to Mexico: Joel Roberts Poinsett.  Poinsett traveled south to Mexico with the task of renegotiating the U.S.-Mexico border and bringing Texas into the U.S. once and for all.  At that time, the southern border of the U.S. sat at the Red River, north of modern-day Texas. President Adams dreamed of the United States extending all the way south to the Rio Grande River, and he was willing to pay one million dollars for that prize.

Of course, Mexico saw great value in Texas and did not budge.

Unfortunately for him, Poinsett never succeeded in his mission of purchasing Texas.  However, during his failed attempt in moving the U.S.-Mexico border, the amateur botanist discovered a plant near Taxco de Alarcón so beautiful that he cut its stems and had them sent back home to the United States.

He mailed the vibrant red blooms to friends, fellow botanists, and botanical gardens across the country, and by 1836 – the very same year Texas won its independence from Mexico – the flowers had become widely known across the country not by their scientific name (Euphorbia pulcherrima), but by the name of the diplomat who brought them here: poinsettias.

Today, Texas is a top poinsettia producer, although cultivating the red Christmas poinsettias is no easy feat. To grow the brightest blossoms, poinsettias require at least five consecutive twelve-hour nights and warm, bright sunny days.  These plants still grow best in the Taxco region of Mexico, where Joel Roberts Poinsett found them almost two centuries ago, and where they’re still known as Flores de Nochebuena (Christmas Eve flowers).  Texas’ own native poinsettia has a distinct splash of red-orange, and is therefore aptly called the “Painted” Poinsettia or the “Fire on the Mountain” Poinsettia.

During Christmastime in Texas, poinsettias of all kinds adorn town squares, gardens, and homes.  In Big Spring, Texas, the annual ‘Poinsettias in the Park’ attraction features multiple enormous metal poinsettias wrapped in Christmas lights.  The Concho Christmas Celebration is also known for its life-like poinsettia light exhibit.  And the winter wonderland display at the Gaylord Texan hotel in Garland, Texas boasts more than 2,000 live poinsettias in all.

As you see these famed poinsettia displays and others in Texas this season, I hope you’ll take a moment to remember their history.  To all Texans who produce, decorate with, and admire the beauty of poinsettias, I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas.

Original article published via The Lonestar Weekly rec'd via eMail

Senator John Cornyn info@cornyn.senate.gov

Instagram, Medium, Facebook, Flickr

glitter-graphics.com

Floral Diversity: Transplant Flowers to Cure Homesickness

Florida was discovered by an explorer named Ponce de Leon. He named the state “Florida” which is the Spanish word for “flowers”, because, upon his arrival in this new land, he saw nothing but gorgeous flowers everywhere. I imagine one of the flowers must have been the hibiscus, a flower that grew in the front yard of my childhood home. In fact, as a kid, it seemed like this flower was everywhere!  We had hibiscus that grew in the front yard of my childhood home. Many hardy hibiscus are native to Florida; but for obvious reasons, the orange blossom was chosen as the state flower. But that's OK because ... the hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii. There are seven species of hibiscus native to this state. Also known as pua aloalo in Hawaiian, this flower represents royalty and communicated power and respect.

Image credit: glitter-graphics.com

When I moved from Florida to Texas, shortly after my arrival, I was in a store shopping for items for my new home. I overheard a lady talking to another lady. She said she had just returned to her home in Texas. She had been vacationing in Florida and she was so excited because she had found this wonderful flower! She said she just had to bring this gorgeous flower back home to Texas and plant it her garden.  Being from Florida, my curiosity was peaked. I wondered what Florida flower had impressed her so much. Turns out that it was the hibiscus.  Not surprised.

Links of Interest:

• Hibiscus Transplant Info - When And How To Transplant A Hibiscus
• Hibiscus Dying or Struggling? 7 Ways to Revive Your Plant
• Hibiscus Wilting After Transplant: What to Do - GFL Outdoors

The medicinal benefits of hibiscus tea are numerous; it can reduce the risk of cancer, help with weight loss and more.  However ... 

• CAUTION!  According to Medical News Today, hibiscus can interact with certain medications. For example, people who take chloroquine, a medication used to treat malaria, should not consume hibiscus because it may decrease how well the medicine works in the body.

I’ll never take the hibiscus flower from my childhood for granted ever again. In fact, if you ever relocate and feel a little homesick, try transplanting a flower that reminds you of the home you left behind.

If you have relocated to a new home, what are flowers that remind you of your childhood home?

♦

Original source

Artists I Fancy: Sayada Ramdial on Tumblr

Spotlight on Sayada Ramdial, one of the artists on Tumblr.

Sayada Ramdial is an incredibly gifted illustrator and graphic artist based in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Started Tumblring in 2012.  Found this talented artist over a year ago.  The Tumblr blog - Sayada's Illustrations and Such. - showcases wonderful watercolor paintings and illustrations.  Not being familiar with how the  #Tumblr microblogging platform worked, at the time, (i.e. the "follow, like and reblog" system), chose to share a nice piece of #art (image below) via #Pinterest to my ARTISTS I Fancy board. Rummaging through my pins today and rediscovered this lovely watercolor painting by Sayada. This time, knew enough to revisit her blog, click the +Follow button, Like the post and Reblog it! Isn't it beautiful?  I am particularly fond of floral paintings. They calm me down.  She says these flowers are common where she lives.  :)

https://sayadaramdial.tumblr.com/post/64799155235/my-watercolor-skills-are-improving-o-o

Contemporary Female Artists That Should Be On Your Radar

Are you an art lover? I am an amateur art lover as opposed to a professional art aficionado. It’s a hobby. My Pinterest account has over 50 pinboards and one of my popular boards is labeled Artists I Fancy. It has almost 3000 followers and over 300 pins.

  

There was once a time when I was an active member of a social blogging community. I responded to a fellow blogger’s request to publish a post and share facts about myself. In my list of Ten Facts About Me, mention was made of two artists who allowed me to publish an article about them even though my freelance writing experience was practically non-existent. If you were connecting dots on my writing experience timeline, find the Dot labeled “None” and connect it to the Dot labeled “Nothing to brag about”. Nevertheless, despite my inexperience both of these talented ladies allowed me to write an article about them.

ARTIST 1: Andrea “Adka” Jones

The name of the first artist is Andrea Jones. But most friends and admirers know her by her childhood nickname which is “Adka”. Discovered her on Facebook. She describes her paintings as “vibrant and happy”. We agree!  Ms. Jones was born in Slovakia, however, she now lives and works in the United States. A current resident of North Carolina but has visited New York, New York, aka the Big Apple. Her artwork which she aptly titled “Inspire New York!” (featured image, used with permission ) has won awards. She is a recognized and respected International Contemporary Master.
Official Website for Adka’s Art

ARTIST 2: Michelle Lohr

The name of the second artist is Michelle Lohr. Like Ms. Jones, she was also on Facebook. She was displaying her artwork on her timeline and instantly won me over as an admirer. Similarly, when approached and asked if she would not mind me writing an article about her artistic goals and aspirations, she approved, granted me an interview, and supplied me with digital images of her work. Ms. Lohr is Israeli-born but lives in Austin, Texas just like me. By contrast to Ms. Jones who has a style categorized as folk art, Ms. Lohr’s painting style was influenced by Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, and Vincent Van Gogh. Her painting which she titled “Nightbloom” is one of my favorite pieces.

♦ Unfortunately, the site where my articles were published shut down. But because of these two female artists, I gained rich experience. They encouraged me to continue my hobby of searching online and collecting examples of artwork by artists I fancy. They also encouraged me to take my freelance writing efforts more seriously. That was an incidental benefit or perhaps I should say that it has been a blessing.

♦♦ Links to Posts About Other Female Artists I Fancy:

Kat Lowry ~ Ms. Lowry is an illustrator. Her drawing of a Japanese sun goddess named Amaterasu will captivate you.

Sayada Ramdial ~ Ms. Ramdial lives in Trinidad and Tobago. She specializes in watercolor paintings and illustrations, mainly of the flowers that grow on the island.

(Original Source: RationalMind.club)

K-Drama: The Merchant: Gaekju (2015 Korean TV Series)

I heart K- dramas and especially the Korean historical period dramas;  movies or television series.  That's why I'm suggesting:  “The Merchant: Gaekju” (2015).

The English translation for the title is “God of Commerce” and it has 41 episodes.  With about 26 episodes left to view, I’m sharing this PRE-review.  By doing it this way, I’m less likely to accidentally blurt out the ending and spoil it for others who may want to see it.  

In today’s American business, we have what’s called bulls and bears. Back in the 17th-century Korean business world, not sure about the bulls and bears, but there were definitely snakes and Shamans.

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Image credit

The main character is Chun Bong-Sam (played by Jang Hyuk), who never even wanted to be a merchant. Sadly his father died a tragic death when he was only 8 years old, and when he grew up, he stepped into his father's shoes and became a merchant too.

I have only watched 15 episodes. It’s taking me a while to complete this series because the plot’s unpredictability is driving me nuts!  (O.o)

You know how it is. You sit down to watch a movie or a series. You think you know what’s going to happen and how it will end and then … that’s not what happens!

Well for me, that has happened in several of the episodes. None of my predictions about the outcomes were correct.

Incredible! Doesn’t the scriptwriter know the rules of plot writing??!!!

The characters I liked were being killed off!

I’m only at episode 15!  I'm screaming! You can’t do this!! 

It is very upsetting.  But each episode has a "hook" that drives you to the next episode because ... you just have to know how it ends!  

Watch the trailer.

Content first published at Virily.com

♦
If You Liked This, You Might Also Like:

K-Drama: Boys Over Flowers (2009 Korean TV series) Gets My Five Stars

Six Flying Dragons (2015 Korean Drama TV Series) Worthy of 10 Stars

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016 Korean Drama TV Series)

Where to watch K-drama online?
Best Korean Movie & Drama Websites 2020 https://t.co/D44cQyQGM7 #kdrama #koreandrama #online #streaming #entertainment #Asiancinema #watchKoreandramaonline #movies pic.twitter.com/EPQZK3SdAU

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) May 1, 2020

Joie de Vivre's Home and Garden Blog Posts Roundup!

Part of everyone's joie de vivre (joy of living) has to do with simply decorating one's home or apartment or living spaces.  It doesn't take much money to make yourself happy.  You know you better than anybody else, so it should be easy to tap into your own psyche.  I tapped into mine and ended up writing these blog posts.  Somebody else might appreciate my home and garden blog posts.

Image credit:  Tools to Design a Virtual Room on Amazon

H&G Tips From Joie de Vivre Magazine:

Buying a Home: Ever Fantasize About Having a Celebrity Neighbor?

Dreaming of Your Dream Home?

Is the Sunroom Your Favorite Room in the House?

Does Your Favorite Room Have a Name?

Transplant Flowers to Cure Homesickness

(More blog posts about flowers)

Ideas for Improving the Harmony and Balance of Your Home or Office

Holidays and Celebrations: Easter Bonnets Do Not Require an Easter Parade

When you hear the words "Easter bonnets" do you think of that old movie with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland called "Easter Parade"?  Do you think of Judy Garland wearing an Easter bonnet with the frills upon it?

Image credit: TCM on Twitter

When I was little my mom always made me a brand new dress for Easter Sunday. But she never made me wear an Easter bonnet. Looking back, I realize that the Easter bonnet was a big deal for some people; but not for others. But my mom was never really a hat person, whether or not it was a holiday. It didn't matter to me if I didn't have a hat because I was happy to have a new dress. These days I don't see very many people carrying on the tradition of Easter bonnets. At least not in the USA. I'm not sure why that is. In fact, I don't know when this tradition started and I don't know when or why it stopped. So I did a little research and here's what I discovered.

Fun Facts and Traditions

~ The Easter bonnet is a European tradition. It came from the tradition of women wearing flowers to celebrate spring.

~ It wasn't until after the Civil War in the USA, that the bonnet tradition was adopted. “The first Easter after the war ended was known as the “Sunday of Joy.” Mothers, wives, and daughters came out of mourning and replaced their dark clothing with outfits full of pastel colors and spring flowers, to again signal a renewal of life. In the 1870s, the first Easter Parade in New York City occurred.”

~ Although the tradition began in the 1800s, it really did not become popular until around the 1940s. It seems that old movie “Easter Parade”, starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, helped to popularize these customs. But the traditions did not last very long because the country went through The Great Depression. An Easter bonnet was considered lavish as well as unaffordable. By the 1950s, few people cared about carrying on this tradition.

** That's interesting because … whether there was a depression or even a war or any kind of disaster or catastrophe, people made it a point to celebrate Christmas.
(That's just a side comment.)

Anyway! My question is:
~ Do you (or your daughters or granddaughters) wear an Easter bonnet?

Don't get me wrong, I like hats. But if you see me wearing one, I'm probably just trying to cover up a “bad hair day”. LOL. 😃 😃 

Talented Photographers : Floral Diversity's Finest! Courtesy of Linda Stokes

Bakc in 2014, when the Google+ social network was still up and running, some Google Plussers were in a flower photo-sharing frenzy and I came across a lady, Linda Stokes, who shared photographs of floral diversity's finest!  What was even more amazing was ... the flowers grow in Oklahoma!  Sorry.  I grew up in Florida.  Florida!  The word literally means "abounding in flowers"!  I have never seen gorgeous blooms like these!  Oklahoma means "red people" (Choctaw words "okla" and "humma").  I'm perfectly OK with that.  (No pun intended.)  But these flowers are blue!! 

Electric blue lotus lily for #FloralFriday from a pond near Loco, Oklahoma.

The Stealth flower, blooming at night, near Loco, Oklahoma.

https://texaxwib.tumblr.com/post/705752241893736448/via-linda-stokes-on-instagram-reflection

Articles of Interest for Aspiring Photographers:

• The Photographer Who Captures Life's Beauty Without Hands or Legs(petapixel.com)
• How to Sell Photos Online: For Both Amateur and Pro Photographers(shopify.com)
• 10 Photography Lessons I've Learned Over 10 Years(digital-photography-school.com)

**

Best cameras for newbie photographers

Arts and Crafts: QUILLING

I am not very good with arts and crafts. I know how to sew and do a little crochet. But I have always admired people who could use their hands to create beautiful things. A friend introduced me to quilling, which she says is a popular art craft in India.

Image credit:  Amazon,com

The way she explained it, quilling requires a lot of patience and can be a very relaxing activity. It's a great way to spend your time when you're bored! LOL. Truthfully? I was only interested in the craft because I saw that she had made a beautiful butterfly and I heart butterflies. 

It looks like a fun art project you can do with kids. But I don't think I have the patience to do quilling. However, if you're interested, there are lots of tutorials on YouTube, like these:

Quilling Pink Butterfly Tutorial 

 

On this YouTube channel, the video publisher makes all kinds of beautiful things: flowers, butterflies, etc.

* * *

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF QUILLING:

“The name quilling is thought to come from the origin of the art; birds’ feathers, or quills, were used to coil the strips of paper around. The art of quilling has been around for centuries, with a remarkably varied historical background spanning across continents.” (Source:  Janet-Panic.com)

“Paper filigree, or quilling, dates back to at least the 15th century and flourished in France and Italy during the 17th and 18th centuries. Very little early quillwork has survived, and it is not known who first rolled thin strips of paper into different shapes to mimic, in a less expensive way, decorative metal filigree work. What is known is that monks and nuns from less well-endowed religious houses rolled paper strips to decorate Bible covers, reliquaries, and other objects of religious significance.” (Source: The Greenwood Hub: Paper Quilling Art) 

Quilling sounds like a delightful hobby and a great craft to teach to both adults and children.  Don't you think so?

P.S.   My university roommate taught me about decoupage.  Indeed, I do get buy with a help from my friends.☺

Flower Spotlight: Cape Primrose

One of the most amazing things about planet earth is its floral diversity. Some sources says there are 400,000 flowering plant species on earth. I have no official qualifications to sy this. I am not a botanist or anything like that. But only 400,000? That number sounds sounds kind of low. Whether it's an accurate count or not, we can agree that there are at lets a bazillion flowers on planet earth and that includes the hybrids. LOL.

This short post shines the spotlight on Cape Primrose.

Cape Primrose is a flower that has several species and is native to South Africa. One doesn't usually associate fairies with Africa but somehow people have associated these flowers with fairies. There is a whimsical belief that fairies care for them. What do they symbolize? Just about everything one would desire in this life. Perfect health. Good luck. A brand new start in life. Spiritual paths that lie ahead. Purity. Honesty. But most importantly, love.

FUN FACT: Cape Primrose is a cousin of African violet. 

The Cape Primrose is an easy flowering houseplants that blooms in colors of shades of violet, pink, crimson, blue, violet and white.

Streptocarpus - The Cape Primrose | plantcaretoday

I often write about flowers. It's one of my favorite things. If you liked this post, you might also like:

Why I Love the Hyacinth Flower

WhyI Love the Jasmine Flower

WhyI Love the Anthurium Flower

Gardenia Flowers and Lady Day

ExoticPlants and Flowers: Bird of Paradise

My History of Tulips

Transplant Flowers to Cure Homesickness

My Foodie Luv: Do You Cook with Edible Flowers?

My Foodie Luv: Four (4) Medicinal Flowers and Plants

High School Memories and Porcupine Quills

Home and Garden: Gardening Recommendation for Those Who Love Red

Red is my favorite color and when I see flowers like the one in the image below, it's my favorite color even more! This heart-shaped flower is called Anthurium. They grow in other vibrant colors; not just red. It is also known as Laceleaf. They bloom all year long. If you plan to add these to your garden here are a few tips. 

"Caring For Anthurium Growing In The Garden Or Home"

"Anthurium is one of the most popular houseplants. Attractive to look at, easy to look after, and brings with it a real personality into the home, which gives a serene feeling in white, whilst the brightly coloured varieties have a lively appearance. Although most people think that the coloured part is the flower, it’s actually a coloured bract. Anthurium flowers are very small and are all found on the spike."

SOURCE:  The story of Anthurium | Hot Plants and Flowers | Hot & Happening | Magazine Sections | Magazine | Fusion Flowers Magazine Floral Design Arranging and Books | Fusion Flowers

"The anthurium flower is known universally as a symbol of hospitality, as this exotic beauty thrives in nearly any location in the home or office. ... As a potted plant, the anthurium plant symbolizes abundance and happiness to the home."

SOURCE:  Anthurium Flower Meaning - Flower Meaning

"According to legend in fact in ancient Greece, the flowers of Anthurium were Cupid's arrows, or the god of love, who could make people fall in love. Despite the history of flower lovers, Anthuriums have begun to be a symbol of Christmas festivities just like poinsettia and fir."

SOURCE:  Anthurium : Perfect Houseplant for Gifting – RollingNature

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Floral Diversity: Why I Love the Jasmine Flower

There are three (3) reasons why I love the jasmine flower.

• Number 1: I love the fragrance.
• Number 2: When I lived in Miami, Florida, I had a Cuban friend named Jasmine (or Yasmin).
• Number 3: I like Disney Princess Jasmine.

Yasmin (Arab) or Yasamen (Persian) means “fragrant flower” and the name comes from the Persians and the Arabs.

Do you know how many types of Jasmine flowers there are? According to the Garden Lovers Club, even though there are 200 different species, you can narrow it down to ten (10) types.
1. Common jasmine
2. Arabian Jasmine
3. Asian Star jasmine
4. Cape Jasmine
5. Jasminum mesnyi
6. Night-Blooming Jasmine (Queen of the Night)
7. Pink Jasmine
8. Showy jasmine
9. Spanish jasmine
10. Winter jasmine

I am familiar with Cape Jasmine, but not by that name. What some people call Cape Jasmine, I call Gardenia.

The jasmine flower that I am most familiar with is Common Jasmine, which is a pretty star-shaped dainty little white flower that can make anyone's garden look amazing. This dainty little lady really gets around. “Originally native to Persia and Kashmir, and brought to Europe in quantities via Spain in the 17th century, Jasmine has a long and rich history in several cultures.”

~ The ancient Arabs believed that paradise must have been a place full of jasmine flowers.

~ Historical records indicate that the kings of Persia, Nepal, and Afghanistan had jasmine flowers planted around their palaces.

~ Arabian jasmine is the national flower of the Philippines.

~ Jasmine is also the national flower of Pakistan (but they call it Chameli).

~ In India, the flower is considered a sacred symbol of divine hope, good luck, and optimism. Many references are made to jasmine in the literature of ancient India. There is a reference to this flower in the Kamasutra as an aphrodisiac. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine for migraines, insomnia, and to treat certain skin infections.

~ In China, it represents feminine kindness, grace, and delicacy, and they believe it is a means to attract love and wealth. (In other words, it's an aphrodisiac.) The Chinese use it to scent their green tea and in Chinese medicine to treat headaches, bone pain, and insomnia.

~ In Thailand, it is the symbol of motherhood.

~ To the Indonesians, the flower represents purity, eternal life, nobility, and the beauty of a girl. It is often used in wedding ceremonies and it is a national flower.

~ For centuries, Spanish Jasmine has been cultivated in France and used to make perfumes, and it is vital to the French economy.

~ For commercial purposes (mainly the perfumery industry), jasmine is grown in Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria.

~ In Hawaii, jasmine is called pikake and the flowers are used to make leis or as a garnish for pastries; while the oil is used in aromatherapy.

~ While researching to prepare this article I learned about a movie called “Jasmine Flower” which stars one of my favorite Asian actresses, Joan Chen. Added to my watch list. Has anybody seen this movie?

Jasmine is called the King of Oils and the Queen of Flowers.

Both honors are fitting. Don't you think so?

Original Source