chinese new year flowers, part 2

view part 1 here!

I know, I know, this isn’t a flower blog – but will you forgive me for the flowers I’m bringing you? regular programming coming right after this!

and if you want a head’s up to start your very own chinese new year tradition of potted plants, then you can’t go far wrong with a pineapple, which phonetically sounds very much like the chinese term for fortune coming your way. that red-and-purple-tinged variety in the second photo up there probably isn’t of the eating variety, but is gorgeous as a festive ornament.

chinese new year flowers, part 1

just part one of a batch of photos I took while at the nursery today – my parents buy a number of potted plants every year in preparation for chinese new year (10 february this year), and it brightens up the garden wonderfully. this is one in a long list of traditions – and I think the easiest one by far. many plants have significance based on the sounds of their name – essentially if the name of the plant shares the same pronunciation as something lucky, you buy it.

this is the first in four years that I’m back for the celebration, and it’s a little bittersweet, as with many things: it’s going to be great having steamboat with the family and stealing slices of abalone in the kitchen while my grandma prepares the meal (I am a favourite grandchild), but having a reunion dinner with friends and my partner in the midst of the cold of winter has its charm too.

but anyway, aren’t these gorgeous? the second half of my photos will be coming up!