When I headed out for my walk the other evening, this sweet violet
caught my eye. It was stretching it's pretty wee head out of a crack,
of all places, smack dab in the center of the asphalt drive. The old
adage "bloom where you're planted" came to mind. (Actually, this is
a wise ancient Afghan proverb.) So, no matter what cracks you may
find yourselves in, dear bloggy friends, take some advice from dear
old Mother Earth; just hold your heads high and bloom, bloom away!
What a lovely photo and good advice.
ReplyDeleteThis is a sign of hope for all. It's a beautiful photo and a lovely sentiment.
ReplyDeleteKat
What a pretty picture! Violets are so dainty but they are tough as can be. Very little deters them short of chemical warfare.
ReplyDeleteBut I'd rather have a lawn of violets and dandelions than perfect grass.
A very inspiring post.It reminds me of the fact that Love can grow even in the most difficult situations. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery inspirational! And a nice photo to boot.
ReplyDeleteThat is the perfect picture to go with that proverb! And it is such good advise...you bless yourself and others, too, by blooming away... no matter where you are!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I made your shortribs for dinner tonight and they were SO incredible!
Oh, I absolutely love this post!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet and delicate yet strong and determined to live and grow. So appropriate and inspiring what you have written to go with the picture. thanks for sharing this
That is a very useful bit of wisdom. Peace.
ReplyDeleteOh Willow - only you could come up with this post - from a violet in a crack. So simple - so true - so, thank you!
ReplyDeleteaw.
ReplyDeleteI love this post.
It's...hopeful.
=)
Very sweet. I'm blooming right here right now! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBreeze
When asked to choose something in nature that represents your spirit best you would most assuredly be the blooming violet through asphalt! Strong and sure! Asphalt- pshah! eet ees no thing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely reminder. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeletewonderful...
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting how nature can make things that look so fragile that are actually incredibly sturdy if given respect. Looks can be deceptive.
ReplyDeleteLove it. Mother Nature is the best teacher.
ReplyDeleteThe will to Be. All of nature has it. Such a very pretty color in this tiny flower. Thanks Willow.
ReplyDeleteNicely inspirational, Willow.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo and words of wisdom, Willow!
ReplyDeleteI think that is very good positive advice & I like that Shaw quote on your sidebar too!
ReplyDeletegreat words of wisdom, and wonderful pic as well. love finding little pieces of beauty like that, as if they were left right where we would find them.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! You brightened my day :)
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile ... .
ReplyDeletethanks for the reminder :-)
Jjjj
So true. Never underestimate the power of nature to soothe.
ReplyDeleteThat always amazes me to see--what a beautiful violet. It really is amazing how flowers will grow sometimes under seemingly impossible circumstances. Our hanging baskets on our deck had pansies in them, and early on in the fall, the birds knocked some out, but the other day, I was out in the back yard and found a patch of pansies that had taken root where they fell, anyway. I had to smile.
ReplyDeleteYou're kidding me!!!?! This is just gorgeous and yes, an over the top illustration of the Afgan (now that I know that)proverb. What a lovely sentiment for the week Willow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo, and nice message. Thank you Willow.
ReplyDeleteOooh I love your new banner picture, it's FAB!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet and lovely post. I love little flowers, especially when found in odd places.
blessings!
delightful! simply delightful and wonderful advice to boot!
ReplyDeleteTruth and beauty once again reclaim
ReplyDeletewhat mankind has hidden.
I really liked this, Willow.
What a lovely thing to find and in concert with the saying,too.
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder, Willow. Thank you.
A sign of hope I would say. We saw a sunflower growing out of a crack in the middle of the highway. How it hadn't been crushed is a mystery but I think people were very carefull not to run over it. Perhaps it was amessage to each and every driver.
ReplyDeleteBrave, brave little flower. The forcefulness of spring this year has taken me aback. I always think of it as gently arriving. Here in Minnesota, it's as if spring this year said, "I'm not having any more if this cold. Off with you!" Our violets will be showing their tender heads soon, too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo...it's lovely how nature is always hinting and suggesting good advice.
ReplyDeleteWillow:
ReplyDeletePlease do not shoot me, but there is something on my blog for you, "special edition," meaning it carries NO obligation for you to do anything. It's just an appreciation and a thank you as you are one of the people who define this particular item at my particular spot (feel free to delete this, ala Mission: Impossible).
Beautiful beautiful picture. But more beautiful is the message that goes with it. Simple, short and soul stirring !!! " Hold your head high and bloom bloom away."
ReplyDeleteYour words can make history -
How do you do it ?
Right now, my life is under asphalt, and I am emarging through hardened cracks. Your post encourages me to fight and then bloom, bloom away before I wither away completely. Thank you.
innergodliness.blogspot.com
Let your light shine where ever you are. When you get stepped on, lift your head up again, just like the little violet.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Willow!
ReplyDeleteWe have been amazed today at the old trees in the forest that have continued to sprout limbs and leaves when they are nothing more than a trunk.
Sage advice. Thank you.
Hello Willow,
ReplyDeleteSome plants have a habit of doing that, don't they. Coming up anywhere but where you planted them! But how beautiful this one is braving the driveway. A spot of brilliance amid the expanse of grey!
I always think beautiful flowers blooming in the cracks are a lovely gift. Good advice!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! As Leonard Cohen says:-
ReplyDeleteRing the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
Beautiful! :-)
ReplyDeleteNever let that stupid asphalt hold you back from blooming, oh yes!
Excellent photo and advice. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Willow...isn't it amazing how a plant will shoot up in the most unlikely place? Yet had you planted it, it may not have thrived.
ReplyDeleteHi Willow, I once gave a friend a bunch of my home grown Violets and she said her Gran told her " that if you are given violets the person must really think a lot of you".
ReplyDeleteWhen I asked why, she said "it takes quite a long time to pick a nice bunch of Violets"
It is very time consuming, but worth the effort, all circled with their leaves and tied with a ribbon...lovely !
Oh Willow, this is the kind of photos I love-of life giving us messages of resilience.
ReplyDeleteThis weekend I was outside on my patio and noticed a few tiny leaves growing between the bricks on the floor and my first instinct was to "pluck them out". But I stopped myself and I'm so glad I did. I wonder if any flowers will show up...
Very nice thoughts Willow!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah!!
ReplyDeletePretty picture, Willow, and excellent words. Thank you. I'll think of that wisdom when I see the violets blooming here.
ReplyDeleteSeems no matter what we do, even pave right over, nature always wins out. Perseverance, resilience, fortitude, whatever you name it, I want to be that too. Thanks for the reminder.
May this new day be filled with beauty for you as well.
perfect. i need to remember that. i love walking in the city and seeing this in a barren spot. i do wonder if you debated your title though as it could have just been "crack" which might have gotten you a whole new stream of readers. :)
ReplyDeleteah...violet is my favorite scent.
ReplyDeletexxxxxxxxxx me
That is really unusual, but attractive too.
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
Wild violets are that way. They live almost everywhere and they reseed everywhere. I have them in one area and they are most persistent.
ReplyDeleteGreat picture. Human endeavor is poor competition for Mother Nature.
ReplyDeleteI have a photograph here somewhere of fern growing out of a brick wall. It struck me the same way.
LOVELY photo. :)
ReplyDeleteMark Twain once said, "Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it." Your photo reminded me of this favorite quote. Thank you.
Gorgeous photo. I adore violets--how unusual to find one in the middle of the pavement! There's definitely a message in there somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI bet if I'd tried to plant it in the garden in a proper place it wouldn't even grow.
ReplyDeleteWhere is your walk-o-meter?
I wonder if a seed was dropped by bird or blown by wind ..
ReplyDeleteOur front yard is covered with those dang wild violets every spring. It looks like an explosion happened at an Easter hay making factory. The only way to get rid of 'em is to die.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love coming across these little surprises? They help to make life worth living.
ReplyDeleteThree cheers for the asphalt plant...my father used to say that the definition of a weed was something growing where you didn't want it to grow. This appears to be in exactly the right place Willow.
ReplyDeleteI adore that photo...glad you have a new camera!...you are a natural photographer...I also adore all things that grow in impossible places!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how plants can thrive at the most incredible places!
ReplyDeletejust beautiful--i always try to throw seeds in the sidewalk cracks just to throw everyone off...
ReplyDeletelovely photo and a perfect message
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful advise, Willow. There is light to be found everywhere.
ReplyDeleteYes, we should all learn from the violet.
ReplyDeleteI love that adage, and I needed to remember it today very much, thank you!
ReplyDeletebeautiful photo & such good advice too.
ReplyDeleteOften times the seemingly delicate are the most tenacious...Food for thought! :)
ReplyDeleteSarah