Forum Flower

[Dennis S]

Forum Flower

Most of us know that the various states in this country have a designated ?state flower?. I was looking at the little guy pictured below, and it got me to thinking, what kind of flower would we pick (if we did such a thing) for the heart valve replacement forum?

I think this little cactus would be worthy of consideration. First, just by accident of ?birth? he faced a big problem. No soft, cushy dirt like my wife provides for the beautiful flowers in her garden. Here he is in the middle of some big rocks, and has found a way to get by with what little he has. He doesn?t get watered like the other flowers, but finds a way to get by with what falls from the heavens. He doesn?t have the protective fence of the garden flowers, but gets all the protection he needs from his sharp spines. And he has enough ?life? left over to provide a beautiful flower, that is the equal of any of the flowers found in the garden.

In many ways he was dealt a difficult hand, but he has been turned into a thing of beauty. But in addition to his beauty, he has a strength that impresses me. The combination of his beauty and strength make him unique. That strength and beauty reminds me of my friends on the forum. I hope you enjoy his picture.

 

[Ross]

The wife said it reminds her of me!

 

[Dennis S]

Yup

Yup

I wasn't kidding when I said he reminds me of some of my friends on the forum!

 

[Georgia]

Good thoughts, Dennis. And if you don't quit sending such beautiful pics of your digs we WILL be out there for our spring reunion!

To add to your thoughts on this little guy, the whole Site came from the desert, so this little cactus would be particularly appropriate.

 

[geebee]

I think this is a perfect idea and a perfect flower for VR.com. Making beautiful flowers out of rough situations is what we have all had to do (and continue to do). I think this is one place where we really shine - passing those flowers along to others who need them more, just like the cactus flower lifts the spirits of those sometimes dreary areas.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Karlynn]

Dennis, your photos and your writing continue to amaze me.

I think it's a great VR official flower!

 

[Nancy]

How about a bleeding heart flower

 

[Dennis S]

Cactus

Cactus

My wife just pointed out another "point" as far as the cactus being the forum flower: "In a pinch, mech valvers could use the spines to help test their INR". Good "point", in my opinion.

 

[Rain]

Perfect flower!

Perfect flower!

Dennis,

This is a wonderful vr.com official flower!! It's a true story that we came out of the desert. And what a perfect flower.... for so many reasons. I love the idea of having a spring reunion in your neck of the woods too.

Were you here when Jean (weekycat) wrote our official song? Its really cool. We sang it at the Chicago reunion. Here's a copy of it......

VR.com Reunion Theme Song

We come from the east, and we come from the west,
from near, and quite far, to meet all the rest.
We are fathers and mothers, we're sisters and brothers,
each has climbed our own mountain, (some steeper than others).

One of the reasons we come, is to thank,
our wonderful, marvelous leader, named Hank.
See, our journey's not easy, it's quite scary at first,
and you tend to get queasy, when you've just heard "the worst".

We were all full of all kinds of questions and fears,
we felt all alone, may have even shed tears.
So...we all surfed the "net", we searched, and we met,
good friends, without Hank, we'd have still not met yet!

We'll all gather together in some special place,
whatever the weather, and meet face to face.
We'll all compare stories and our high INR's,
and who's chest looks best, with a scar upon thars!

We'll eat, and we'll drink, and we'll have lots of fun,
and before we all know it, our time will be done.
We'll hug our good-byes, and blink back a tear,
and say, "Bless your heart, 'til we see you next year"!

 

[Dennis S]

Another cactus

Another cactus

Here is a different cactus. I love the color. I hope I am not posting too many pictures-someone please tell me if I am. I think a Southwest reunion would be great. And the closer to Jemez Springs the better! We have a small guest house, and there are a few bread & breakfasts in town.

By the way, my wife Barb also thinks it's a good idea.

 

[Blanche]

I live in Tempe, Arizona so the thought of a reunion in my back yard is a welcome one, and the VR flower of Cactus is great. There are more than 1,000 varieties of cacti, all of which have their own special attractions (and thorns..distractions.) Appears to me that the many varieties of cacti mirror the many varieties of people who frequent this haven. Great idea, Dennis. I ,for one, enjoy the photos you have posted. Please don't stop on my account.

Kind regards,
Blanche

 

[Ross]

Dennis you know full well if I could, I would be out there in no time flat. I love the territory you live in and would really enjoy waking up to the views you have shown me in your pictures.

 

[Ross]

How about a bleeding heart flower

I had one of these plants until 5 years ago. I miss it so.

 

[Wise]

Dennis, I'm not very plant knowledgeable, so I'm going to ask what may be a stupid question. Does the cactus with the red and yellow flowers have a specific name? It is quite beautiful, as are the other flowers.

 

[Dennis S]

Cactus names

Cactus names

Because he grew right out of the rock, and seems able to survive such long odds---Starting a couple of days ago, I have started addressing that little cactus as Ross Junior.

My wife can probably give a real answer to that question, but at the moment she is in her second grade classroom trying to persuade the kids that summer vacation doesn't start for another 7 days. (Remember how great it used to feel to have the whole summer stretched out in front of you?)

Continuing the Southwest theme, I wonder if anyone can recognize a famous (now deceased) writer sometimes called ?cactus Ed? who loved & wrote extensively about the Southwest? Here is a sample of his writing :

?May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow ........... down into a desert of red rock, blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottos of endless stone, and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm where bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs, where deer walk across the white sand beaches, where storms come and go as lightning clangs upon the high crags, where something strange and more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you --- beyond that next turning of the canyon walls.?

Here is a small picture of what he was talking about-The Grand Canyon was the first place I went to try out my new heart valve. Hooray for St. Jude

 

[Rain]

Edward Abbey?

Edward Abbey?

I know, I know .... is it Edward Abbey?

Hey I bet we could even talk Hankypoo into coming to Jemez Springs. My house is about 200 miles from there... I'd be there for sure!

Everyone should see the Grand Canyon at least once..... so amazing.. such an awesome place.

I love your pictures! More is better!!

 

[Dennis S]

You are correct!

You are correct!

And, it might have been a little bit of a trick question. The quotation (which is fairly well known) is taken, not directly from the book, but from the preface to one of my favorite books-- "Desert Solitaire".

By the way, any help in identifying the little red cactus that got this started would be appreciated. I am sure we have members that know what kind of cactus that is.

 

[geebee]

By the way, any help in identifying the little red cactus that got this started would be appreciated. I am sure we have members that know what kind of cactus that is.

It is called a "Claret Cup Cactus" AKA "Hedgehog Cactus".

Love the Grand Canyon. When my SO and I visited a few years back, I wanted to take a helicopter ride but I am claustrophobic and they jam people in those choppers. Chris went and chartered a helicopter for just the 2 of us (and the pilot of course) and we had our pick of places to fly into and over. It was one of the most memorable days of my life.

You might also be interested in knowing that the US issued a series of State Wildflower Postage Stamps in 1992. The one on New Mexico's = The Claret Cup Cactus Flower".