Back to photostream

STATUESQUE...BLUE IRIS

 

The name Iris is Greek and it means rainbow for its many colours. However, most irises are shades of blue or purple. The majority of irises that we see today are hybrids of the originals.

The iris has been around for many centuries, and many artists have chosen to paint them. There are several famous paintings of the flowers. From 1888 to 1890, Van Gogh painted at least four paintings of irises. Monet painted "Iris" sometime between 1914 and 1917.

Not only is the iris a beautiful flower, but also they have several uses. As a live plant they are used as a water purifier. They are ingredients in some perfumes, homemade toothpaste, pottery and herbal medicines.

 

The stylised iris, fleur-de-lis, descends from the white iris which is native to Florence, Italy and which grew even in its city walls. This white iris, displayed against a red background, became the symbol of Florence until the Medici family, to signal a change in political power, reversed the colours making the white one red and setting in motion a centuries-long breeding program to hybridise a red iris. Catherine de Medici carried this symbol of Florence to Paris when she married the king of France where this most famous of irises acquired its nickname, fleur-de-lis.

 

The iris has been associated with France as Louis VII adopted it as a symbol in the 12th Century.

 

Contemporary uses can be seen in the Quebec flag and on the flag of Saint Louis, Missouri.

The iris is now the sole feature on the flag of the Brussels-Capital Region.

The Iris is the state flower of Tennessee.

Furthermore, it is the almost universal symbol of Scouting.

 

In Flowers'-language: Iris means faith; hope; wisdom and valour

 

Iris can mean:

 

* The sphincter around the pupil of the eye, the iris is the most visible part of the eye, when photographed with a flash, the iris only reacts to protect the retina, and not fast enough to avoid the red eye effect.

* The equivalent device in a camera,

* The messenger of the gods in Greek mythology,

* A variety of flower,

* A female first name.

 

With love to you and thank you, M, (* _ *)

 

For more: www.indigo2photography.com

 

 

IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN (BY LAW!!!) TO USE ANY OF MY images or TEXT on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission.

If you do, without accreditation, it is STEALING © All rights reserved

 

4,226 views
42 faves
6 comments
Uploaded on December 16, 2018