“Labels are devices
for saving talkative persons the trouble of thinking.” ~John Morley
As snow melts and winter begins to turn to spring we usually
take an assessment of trees, bushes, and perennials in our surroundings to see
what survived the winter, especially this year with the unusual amount of snow
and the cold temperatures. A few days
ago, I walked through my yard looking for signs of life. My tulips and daffodils are just “barely”
starting to raise their drowsy heads to make their presence known. However, to my great surprise the hardy
little perennials I planted last year were already budding, just shy of bursting
into bloom in my otherwise dormant yard.
Flowers are one of nature’s greatest gifts. I have spent many hours planting,
growing, cultivating, transplanting, and studying about flowers. Some suggest that flowers have a language that
can communicate happiness, peace, love, and even sorrow. Just
letting the names of flowers roll off my tongue brings a bit of joy to my
soul. Daffodils… sounds happy; Honeysuckle….yummy; Lavender…delicately French; Jasmine…little flower, big fragrance;
Peony…grandiose; Lotus…exotic; Belles of Ireland…prickly, but regal; Tea Roses…exquisite; Hellebore….what???? Hellebore, what kind of name is
Hellebore? That name does not suggest
beauty. The name does not roll off your
tongue like dripping honey. It is a terrible name that sticks in your
throat like a pincushion. It does not
make you feel happy or inspired. Flowers
have botanical Latin names and many of them have undesirable Latin names such
as “Digitalis” but have been given improved common names like “Foxglove.” The only name change from the Latin genus name
“Helleborus” is to “Hellebore” – not really much of an improvement! What happened during this process of
identification and making the formal, less formal? Okay, this name is not worthy of such a
beautifully delicate and resilient flower.
When we talk about the relevancy of names or labels that we
use to identify or categorize, we have to ask what really is in a name or a
label? We give things names and labels
all the time but do those names really reflect the content and depth and beauty
of its namesake? Is a name or label
truly to identify or do we use this method in negative ways to put down and
demoralize others? “The line between labeling for the purpose of providing information and
labeling for the purpose of marginalizing others can be subtle,” says D. Gordon Smith of the J. Reuban Clark Law School. Giving something or someone a name or a label
is usually done because of a particular incident or fleeting behavior. Names and labels can stick for a very long
time; sometimes a lifetime. In a moment of conflict, poor judgment, or
struggle, labels can not only be negative but very limiting. Dieter F. Uchtdorf said that, “Name- calling and labeling are forms of
judgment, and the problem with judgment is its finality.” Once a label or name is given, there is
little room for one to grow or evolve and since we all change and evolve almost continuously, labels are static and do not change as we do.
Since we all are imperfect and flawed mortals but blessed with infinite potential,
labeling others or allowing the names
and labels others attach to us to hold us back, defeats the gifts of hope,
encouragement, inner strength and power given to us by a Living God.
Our hope is to live in a
sufficiently nurturing environment that we can continually change, grow and improve, and afford
that opportunity to others as well. Labeling should be for cans and file folders
and not people.
“The temptation to
label is ever present. Labeling shrinks
our capacity for genuine understanding of and love for the people involved.” ~ Ann Madsen
The little perennials thriving in my backyard are Hellebore
plants. They are the first flowers on
the scene in the spring. As a cut
flower, they are the longest lasting of all the other flowers in my yard. Unlike people, they are not held back, nor
are they incapacitated by their name. They
do not cower, make excuses, wither, shrink or fade into the background. They are bold, resilient, strong, subtle, yet
lovely, in spite of the name that humankind has given them. Hellebores are my botanical heroes. Like
the Hellebore, I want to stand tall and not cower under labels others attach to
me, nor do I want to limit others with silly, limiting or negative labels. That would be a Hellev – a way to be!!!
A few years ago I walked through the Brooklyn Artist’s
Brownstone Home Tour in NYC and visited a townhouse owned by a brilliant artist. One of the most clever things I saw was
demonstrated by his use of flowers, greenery, sticks, etc. from his own yard to
beautify his home. Small votive candle containers were filled
with flowers, flowering branches, ivy, herbs, etc. and were placed around the
home. They adorned the mantles, were
placed on nightstands, in windowsills and in bathrooms. It was such a simple and yet wonderful way to
bring the beauty of the outdoors inside.
I was so inspired by this simple use of readily available and beautiful
flowers that upon arriving home, I vowed to make ten of these little
arrangements each week and bring them inside to brighten my surroundings. Obviously, this has not happened every week,
but I often make a few when my yard is bursting with lovely things. It makes me happy and I hope by sharing this
simple idea will, in turn, make you happy.
Today, in my small arrangement is my shining star – the Hellebore.
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