Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Red is for Poppy



Red is for poppies growing 

wild in the breeze of a Texas spring day.



Here in central Texas red poppies 

can grow naturally along highways, in vacant lots, 

parks, and the gardens or yards of individuals.




In 1995 the US Post Office commemorated the founding of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, NM, with a postage stamp featuring Georgia O'Keeffe's famous painting, Red Poppy, 1927. My talented friend, Kay, sent me the above little work of art that year for my birthday. It is a set of the stamps framed by a quote from O'Keeffe that Kay uniquely penned and embellished:

Nobody sees a flower
Really.
It is so small.
We haven't time,
And to see takes time.
Like to have a friend
Takes time.
~Georgia O'Keeffe~



In 1927 Georgia O'Keefee, being a pioneer in the Modernist Movement, used a unique approach to paint flowers. She wanted to paint what was in her mind's eye and in her heart. Her series of flower paintings are much like photographs that have been cropped to show close up details.



If you take a flower in your hand
and really look at it,
It's your world for the moment.
~ Georgia O'Keeffe~



The Georgia O'Keefee Museum opened to the public in 1997. It is the only museum in the world dedicated to an internationally known American woman artist. With a collection of over 3,000 of O'Keefee's works, this jewel of a museum is a must see for those who appreciate this legendary artist. Currently one can view a special exhibit entitled, Georgia O'Keefee: Abstraction. This exhibit runs May 28 - September 12, 2010. After seeing the exhibit, I picked this little bouquet of poppies in the museum gift shop. They are actually writing pens.



One stayed behind with my hostess 

for the guest book in her Santa Fe casa.




The others came home with me

 to be given as party favors sometime in the future. 

 I'm thinking ~ perhaps a poppy themed tablescape?


I'm linking this post to the following weekly memes:



Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

69 comments:

  1. Sarah, I remember as a child buying poppies from veterans to help other vets. That is a neat pen, and I love Georia O'Keefe. We had a large print years ago of clouds that she did, and the plate was signed by her. I loved it.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I, too, remember buying the poppies from the veterans, I haven't seen them in the past few years.
    Love those poppy pens, they are adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Any flower that can grow wild is certainly a beauty in my book.
    I absolutely love your poppy pen arrangement, how adorable!!
    Wonder if one can order them over the internet or through the mail??
    Fondly,
    Ann
    @
    The Tattered Tassel

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Sarah

    I still see veterans selling poppies on Memorial Day. Poppies always remonds me of my mother who would recite the poem "In Flanders Fields" to us on Memorial Day.

    I like Geogia O'Keeffe's art! I so mnay of her paintings in an exhibit in a museum in San Diego, and I'd love to visit her museum in Santa Fe someday.

    The poppy pens are so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Sarah,

    Those red poppies are just beautiful...I didn't go to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum when I was in SF...next time!! Love the red poppies you purchased there!

    Miss Bloomers

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love this post!! I also love Georgia O'Keefe, & I've been lucky enough to visit the museum. Those little pens are wonderful, I would have bought them out too. What a delightful post darling. xx's

    ReplyDelete
  7. This was a great post--I have not heard of her! It would be so cool to visit there and see her works!Love the quotes you shared too.

    nannykim/spindlecottage

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't know much at all about Georgia O'Keefe - but I love poppies! We are enjoying the yellow and orange California poppies that seem to grow out of the rock here.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful post. The quotes you shared seem to really apply to blogging with all of the friendships formed and beautiful flower photos shared. The poppy pens are adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I see I'm not the only one burning the midnight oil here. Thank you for your late night visit!
    Beautiful and regal poppies. THanks for the wonderful information on poppies and Georgia!
    I learned many new things here.
    Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh these are just so bright and pretty. I can see why you love them so much. Thanks for sharing such a colorful and fun post!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I wish I lived closer. This is an exhibit I'd just love to see.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the poppies and the pens are so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Interesting facts and love all the flowers. It still amazes me how such beauty can thrive on along a hot roadway. They do better than mine in my yard.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sarah,
    Thank you for the beautiful and educational post. Your glass poppies are awesome.
    I did spy a little of your ME in one photo, too. ;-) Love that!
    ´*•.¸(´*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
    ♥•.*.Thank you.*.•♥
    ♥•.*.from Vicki.*.•♥
    ¸.•*´(¸.•*´♥´*•.¸)´*•.¸

    ReplyDelete
  16. You are so lucky that the red poppies grow wild. I love the pens they are so cute. They would look realy neat as a centerpiece.

    :) Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dear Sarah,
    that's a wonderful post, colorfull like a poppy flower. You have always such itneresting poems and thoughts in your posts and so nice photos. The sunset photos where amazing, too. The popppy pens are so cute.
    Greetings, Johanna

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love poppies! I just recently watched a Georgia O'keefe movie....I learned a lot about her.
    Hugs,
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely post, poppies are such bright & cheerful flowers, that's why I've kept the wild ones that bloomed in my garden this year.
    Im sure that your friend in Sante Fe will cherish her poppy for ever.
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wonderful red post Sarah! I would LOVE to see this exhibit~ How great that you have the commerative stamps too. I love the quotes included & your photo of the poppies in front of the iron gate would be stunning enlarged and framed. Thanks for sharing a piece of Georgia :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love the pens. What a great flower to feature!

    ReplyDelete
  22. i love your friends artwork, what a treasure .... and the poppies are sooooo pretty! wonderful post to be sure!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sarah, those poppies are so pretty and thanks for the info about Georgia O'Keefe.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sarah, Martina McBride is singing Somewhere over the Rainbow as I read this post.

    What a lovely moment.

    I really enjoyed your pictures and your words and your little trip over the rainbow!

    Beautiful red link!

    A+

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for dropping in! I love your informative post on Georgia O'Keefe. We are headed back to Santa Fe in September. I hope they still have red poppy pens. Delightful.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very pretty, Sarah! I have been to O'Keefe's museum. She is a very talented artist. You brought home some very pretty things...Christine

    ReplyDelete
  27. I loved the work of Georgia O'Keefe and would love to visit the museum. Thanks for the red post! Anne

    ReplyDelete
  28. I enjoyed this! I would like to see the Georgia O'Keefe museum! I like the glass poppies you bought, (I have a similar glass yellow rosse.) Can't wait to see your poppy tablescape, I'm sure it will be fabulous!

    Katherine

    ReplyDelete
  29. So pretty! They're such cheerful flowers, aren't they?

    How great that we're both celebrating our blogiversary's at roughly the same time. I'm so glad to have gotten to know you this past year!

    Hugs,
    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  30. Your poppies are so pretty Sarah and I think that would be such a beautiful table scape. I love all the different colours poppies come in around here. I am not too good with the names of wild flowers. But quite often on the sides of the roads here there will be orange poppies, with these tall purple/blue flowers. The colour combination is incredible. I have a coffee table book sitting in my entrance hall of Georgia O'Keefe called New Mexico. She is an amazing artist. Hope your week is going well! Sherri : )

    ReplyDelete
  31. I put a poppy on mine, they are beautiful to look at but the fragrance is awful. I love the way they just pop up in the dullest places and bring a bit of colour. For me a poppy will always remind me of soldiers and the price they pay.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  32. such a delicate but strong flower that has represented such beauty but sadness.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi again,

    Such a wonderful example of Rainbow Red - love the poppy too for all its poigant memories.

    Have a great Alphabe-Thursday,

    LOLA:)

    PS Mine this is HERE. Hope you can stop by!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sarah, I love this post. As you should know :) I do love to see them growing wild, they are so pretty and bright. I love Georgia O'Keefe too. When DH and I were first married he had a contract to install art at a medical center. They wouldn't let him hang any of her works in the Psych ward! Too "suggestive". And he thought he was just hanging pretty flowers lol. Kat

    ReplyDelete
  35. Poppies, one of my top five favorite flowers in all the world.

    Thanks for a post that was just lovely to look at!!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love your red poppy post and the information about Georgia O'Keefe. She was a wonderful artist. I can't believe that I've been all over the world, have done about 88 cruises and I still haven't made it to Santa Fe! Now that I've lost my job of 21 years in massive budget cuts in San Francisco, I'm going to have to travel closer to home so maybe a visit to Santa Fe is on the horizon.

    Goofed up my Mr. Linky somehow - never went to bed tonight so, probably that's why; you can find me at:
    http://rnsane.blogspot.com/2010/07/red-is-alphabe-thursday-rainbow-colors.html#links!


    At 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
    ( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
    http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love your red poppy post and the information about Georgia O'Keefe. She was a wonderful artist. I can't believe that I've been all over the world, have done about 88 cruises and I still haven't made it to Santa Fe! Now that I've lost my job of 21 years in massive budget cuts in San Francisco, I'm going to have to travel closer to home so maybe a visit to Santa Fe is on the horizon.

    Goofed up my Mr. Linky somehow - never went to bed tonight so, probably that's why; you can find me at:
    http://rnsane.blogspot.com/2010/07/red-is-alphabe-thursday-rainbow-colors.html#links!


    At 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
    ( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
    http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love O'Keefe, and have spent some time near where she lived in NM...great post!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Always love seeing the poppies. Such a happy flower that brings a ton of memories with it.
    Got a smile from the blue lady lounging on the sofa behind the poppy pens. Sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I would love to visit that museum!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Ooooh! Pretty, petty poppies! Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I love poppies. We used to have bright orange ones at our first house, they were wild. I enjoyed getting to know a bit more about Georgia O'Keefe. I've always enjoyed her work. I think your poppy pen idea as a hostess gift is perfect!!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Poppies have always been such a favorite. I can't even IMAGINE living where these pretty things grow wild. How wonderful.

    As for my little black and white cups...the words EDUSCHO CAFISSIMO are on the bottom. This is German so I am taking for granted that the little set is from Germany. Why would anyone want to give them away, I wonder...
    xo bj

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love poppies. In California, it's our state flower. Although most of ours are orange

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Beautiful and the Red contrasting White....breathtaking..I worked for the PO for years and remember when those stunning stamps were realized....great post..bkm

    ReplyDelete
  46. Sarah, thanks for introducing me to Georgia O'Keefee's work. It's amazing as is her poetry. I noticed in your profile that you are from central Texas. I lived in east Texas for a couple of years, and the flowers (especially the roses) along with the rolling hills were the greatest perks.
    Cee

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love red poppies! Yours are beautiful. I have tried to grow poppies twice and it hasn't worked yet. I will have to just buy them at the garden center next time! Thanks for stopping by.
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  48. I don't think I've ever seen a poppy in person. They look beautiful in a field though. I love those pens. Great red post.

    ReplyDelete
  49. I love those poppy pens....the photos of the poppy fields are amazing...

    ReplyDelete
  50. Beautiful red poppies! I would love to visit a field of poppies! Wonderful post about Georgia O'Keefe!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Beautiful red poppies! I would love to walk in a field of poppies. Wonderful post about Georgia O'Keefe!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Poppies are such beautiful flowers, and thank you for the info on Georgia O'Keefe..

    ReplyDelete
  53. The only poppies around here are the ones the veterans sell. While quite worthwhile, yours are much more beautiful. The information on Georgia O'Keefe was very interesting. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  54. What gorgeous Poppies,,,, love the pretty pens too....

    Hugs;
    Alaura

    ReplyDelete
  55. Great post about red! I adore Gerogia O'Keefe and poppies are such a lovely flower.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I love your poppies. You have done a wonderful job of placing the poppies in just the right settings for your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Poppies and Georgia O'Keefe...both have an almost magical effect.

    ~jermaine~

    ReplyDelete
  58. You know Sarah, I don't think I have ever seen a real poppy before! I must see if I can find some soon as they really are exquisite flowers.

    Best wishes for a fabulous weekend,
    Natasha.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  59. Sarah this post is beautiful.
    The photos are wonderful, and the Georgia O'Keefe quotes are beautiful. What cute ink pens, and how clever or you to buy enough for favors and to put them in that neat vase. Love the framed stamps that your talented friend put the quote around. laurie

    ReplyDelete
  60. Sarah, I abosolutely love poppies. The odd thing is thatI have difficulty sometimes, growing them. One year I had some that were just stunning. If any wild ones ever popped up, I would for sure leave them, but that doesn't happen here.

    You do find the neatest items to give as party favors, your guests are fortunate.

    ReplyDelete
  61. The poppy is my all time favorite
    ;0)

    ReplyDelete
  62. I love red poppies. I started to add them to my new painting but after I did, I began to look into red poppies growing in NM and realized that they come out when there is still snow on the mountains so I had to make them Indian Paintbrushes....haha.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Just stopping by from Jenny's Party!! I am late getting around to everyone! Gorgeous poppies! They definitely have the rich red color that I love!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Love Poppies! Clever to combine the red poppies with the Georgia O'Keefe museum. I would not mind having a poppy-pen!
    Best wishes,
    Anna
    For the benefit of other readers:
    Anna's Red B-Words

    ReplyDelete
  65. Lovely poppies and great salute to Georgia O'Keefe!
    Susan

    ReplyDelete

Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.