Writing — Photo Stories
From Trinidad with Love: Beautiful Bougainvillea
And why this flower is so great for psychological well-being
Bougainvillea is the jewel of the tropics and a favorite flower for many people who visit and reside there. It grows profusely, requires minimal care and blooms all year long here in Trinidad & Tobago. What’s not to love about that!
I first fell in love with it though, while living in Orlando, FL. I will post some of my Florida Bougainvillea flower photos another time. These are all from Trinidad and were taken at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Port of Spain, Trinidad’s capital city.
Trinidad was under British rule until 1962 when it gained its independence, yet the influence of the British is still strong here, and is evident in the way people speak, the names of locations and streets, and the way business and government are conducted.
For instance, on many official government documents, you will still see verbiage like “In the year of our Lord…” And sometimes I hear men call their wives or girlfriends “lovey” just like an English gentleman might do.
It’s quite charming.
Embracing The Beauty of Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea sports rich, intense color. Catching a glimpse, to me, is a reminder of everything that’s right in the world. It also reminds me to be brave and bold, no matter what life throws at me. Never forget, it whispers, that even in darkness, beauty and love is always present in the world.
In darkness, beauty can be difficult to see. Sometimes I will need to work a little harder to seek it out or keep it within my sights. Embrace imperfection, accept the world for what it is and continue to shine bright despite its many flaws.
Bougainvillea is known for having a welcoming presence, as its beauty is so enchanting. When I’m feeling down or anxious, this magnificent flash of color is like the universe saying,
“It’s ok, just breathe. Allow me to revive your senses and refuel your soul.”
Bring Exhilaration Back to Life
The vibrance of Bougainvillea is said to have the ability to ignite a person’s passions. How can it not? Does not the warmth and intensity ignite the spirits with vigor and enthusiasm? At least for me, it does.
By the way, did you know that the part of the Bougainvillea that we associate with being a flower isn’t actually the flower. If you look at the photos, you will see the little white flowers in the middle. The colorful, paper-like elements surrounding them are actually called bracts?
Hopefully, this will come as a gift to all the people out there who are experiencing adverse conditions right now! Been there plenty!
For more interesting info on Bougainvillea, including symbolism, medicinal purposes and culinary uses (yes, they are edible, no I haven’t tried them) consult this interesting article from Petal Republic (what a great name, eh?):
Thanks to Dennett for heading up this awesome Medium publication. Don’t forget to check out more great photo stories by Gauri Sirur, Mary Chang Story Writer, Anne Bonfert, Pene Hodge, Kim Zuch and Diana Lotti.
More of my own photo and travel stories:
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