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VenetiaJane’s Garden

@venetiajane.bsky.social

4.1K followers 2.2K following 3K posts

Sharing the wonders of flowers and nature, gardening, plant history, folklore, art, and poetry. Bedfordshire photographer for the National Garden Scheme charity. #SolaceInNature #DailyBotanicalBeauty https://www.venetiajane.co.uk

www.venetiajane.co.uk

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · Jul 20

“Robins appear when loved ones are near.” In British folklore, the robin is seen as a spirit messenger, a bird of comfort and compassion. Its appearance is often thought to be a brief visitation from a loved one’s spirit, perhaps at a time of passing or mourning. #FolkloreSunday

A European robin perched on a branch, its bright orange-red breast glowing against soft brown and grey feathers. Fresh green leaves are unfolding around it, with a blurred background of pale spring light.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 15h

October roses in warm hues for #RoseWednesday

A collage of nine close-up photographs of roses in soft pastel shades of cream, peach, pink, and white. Each bloom varies in form, from single and semi-double flowers to full, ruffled blossoms, all set against green foliage.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 19h

A very happy birthday month to you, Mike. I grow ‘Snow Princess’ as the colour blends better with the other plants in my garden. I have to say I’m always delighted to see the lovely bright orange ones in other people’s gardens though!

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 19h

I have a ‘Snow Princess’ plant that must have self seeded itself. I have been gathering seed from it myself this year as it’s a really lovely one. I like the pale-yellow colour of it as it suits my garden better. Marigold seeds are really unusual; they look like dried, curled caterpillars 😂

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 19h

The one in my photos is a purple leaved variety with ruby-red flowers. It’s a lovely one. I’ve had it for years, and unfortunately I don’t know the variety. The bees seem to like it even more than the normal green-leaved classic variety ‘Autumn Joy’.

VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 19h

That’s beautiful!

VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 19h

I didn’t know that!! How interesting! Thank you. I must make a note of that 🐺

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 1d

Japanese anemone and a hoverfly. #DailyBotanicalBeauty #photography #flowers

A close-up photo of a hoverfly feeding on the pollen of a pale pink Japanese anemone flower with a bright yellow centre, surrounded by other softly focused blooms and buds in the background.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 1d

The beautiful painting of Calendula flowers in a vase, that I used to illustrate my post, is by the British painter and printmaker Freda Marston (1895-1949).

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 1d

The marigold (Calendula officinalis) is the last birth flower for those born in #October. Sacred to Apollo, the sun god, its golden blooms were thought to hold protective and healing powers. To keep marigolds in the home was to invite sunlight and good fortune. #folklore #flowers

Still life painting of calendulas in shades of gold, orange, and cream, mixed with blue cornflowers, arranged loosely in a blue and white ceramic vase on a table before a framed artwork on a pale wall. Painted by the 20th century British painter and printmaker Freda Marston.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 2d

The illustrations used in the thread are a botanical painting of Humulus lupulus from ‘Deutschlands flora in abbildungen nach der natur’ by Jakob Sturm (1771-1848), and ‘Akela the lone wolf’, an illustration from Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’ (1903). #art #nature #history

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 2d

‘Hop’, the English word that we use for the plant, comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘hoppan’ meaning ‘to climb’. Old #folklore tells that if you stuff your pillow full of hops it will ensure a good night’s sleep (perhaps a pint of hop-flavoured beer would help too! 🍺).

Botanical illustration of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus), showing leaves, flowers, cones, and seed parts. From Deutschlands flora in abbildungen nach der natur by Jakob Sturm (1771–1848), plate titled “Echter Hopfen, Humulus lupulus.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 2d

The hop’s specific name ‘lupulus’ is the Roman name for the plant. It is derived from Latin ‘lupus’ meaning wolf. Pliny wrote that the name was a comparison between the gradual overpowering and covering habit of the plant and the creeping stealth of a wolf as it hunts its prey.

An illustration titled Akela the Lone Wolf from The Jungle Book (1903) by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by Maurice and Edward Julius Detmold. A majestic wolf stands alert on a rocky ledge at dawn, with two other wolves resting among the mountains behind.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 2d

The hop, Humulus lupulus, is the third birth flower for those born in the month of October. It is also called the ‘beer flower’ because it is used as a flavouring in beer making. The leaves and flower-heads can also be used to produce a fine brown dye. #folklore #flowers #nature

A collage showing hop plants (Humulus lupulus). Left: a vintage botanical illustration of the hop vine, leaves, flowers, and seed parts from Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen Nach der Natur by Jakob Sturm (1771–1848). Right: two close-up photographs of hop cones, green and papery, hanging among serrated leaves.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 2d

🙏🌕

VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 2d

I created this one from different leaves a while ago. Such beautiful patterns!

VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 2d

Wow, I love those!! Great patterns. I love some of the patterns on fungi, and I’m going to be examining the lichen more closely now. Thank you for the inspiration!

VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 3d

Honey bees still enjoying the starry, pink Sedum #flowers on an autumn day. #DailyBotanicalBeauty #photography #bees

Collage of close-up photos showing honeybees feeding on clusters of vivid pink-red Sedum flowers. The images capture the bees’ golden, fuzzy bodies among the star-shaped blossoms, with softly blurred backgrounds in pink and green tones.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 3d

“October brings the acorn moon,” says the old rhyme, when oaks shed their fruit for deer, pigs, and gleaners. Another warns: “Full moon in October without frost, no frost till full moon in November.” If no frost comes early, winter may be slow to start. #FolkloreSunday #fullmoon

Collage featuring a large oak tree in a frosty field under a pale blue sky; a vintage botanical illustration of the Common European Oak (Quercus robur) and European White Oak (Quercus pedunculata) from The North American Sylva (1819) by François-André Michaux and Augustus L. Hillhouse; a close-up of two acorns on oak leaves; and a bright full moon glowing in an orange sky.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 4d

I’m fascinated by the colour variations in Canna leaves, often on the same plant! I photographed some and used them as inspiration to create this patchwork collage. Nature’s artistry never fails to amaze. #DailyBotanicalBeauty #art #nature

Collage of nine close-up photographs of Canna leaves, each showing bold striped patterns in different colours, including green, yellow, red, pink, orange, and purple.

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 4d

Wonderful! Enjoy! 🥳🎉🍾

VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 4d

I was always more of a Fruit Salad fan than a Black Jack fan. I must have a look in a sweet shop next time I pass one, to see whether they still sell them!

VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 4d

I grow Cosmos ‘Purity’ every year. Such a superb flower! A very happy birthday month to you, Mike!

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 4d

Those are beautiful ones. What lovely colours! A very happy birthday month to your daughter 💐

VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 4d

Spot on! 😊

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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 4d

It’s great to know (and encouraging!) you enjoy them. I really do appreciate that 💐