November 25, 2010

The Enchanted Bloom.

It is more than a decade since I returned back to Europe, but I still recall with joy and longing the American Thanksgiving celebration, which I took part in for so many years while living in North Carolina.
Today, even though I no longer observe this lovely tradition, I do get reminded of the approaching Christmas through one beuatiful, subtle sign.

Each year, as precisely as clockwork, my Christmas Cactus stands in full bloom around this time. Its stunning, almost flamboyant veil of pink flowers - cascading down like a magenta waterfall, adorning my bedroom window - signals in no uncertain terms that the onset of the enchanted and most beuatiful time of the year is indeed imminent.

Happy Thanksgiving my dear American friends.

33 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Beautiful pictures Zuzana. Nice to see such vibrant colours in this grey world. It has started to snow here too. Arghh.

Sandy said...

And Happy Thanksgiving to you Zuzana! Your Christmas cactus is just stunning in pink. Plants don't do well in my home but I remember my Mom had a beautiful Christmas cactus in red. Have a lovely day my dear friend.

Anonymous said...

That must be so nice.
A welcome reminder i should say

Unknown said...

woow! your Christmas Cactus is gorgeous! mine is full of little buds now and starting to bloom. maybe they should be called Thanksgiving Cactus.

Happy Thanksgiving Zuzana!!

Hilary said...

I've never seen one in such full bloom before. I had one years ago which I believe became a toy for one of my cats. :/ It was very small and was given to me by my mother in law who had a beauty of her own. I think of her every time I see one now. I should get one in her memory.

Paul C said...

Oh, my, that Christmas Cactus is so vibrant and healthy. You can see it in those buds. It's interesting how our hearts go back to pivotal times and holidays like Thanksgiving past.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Zuzana! My husband is downstairs beginning to prepare the dressing to be stuffed into our 15 pound turkey. It's going to smell very good around here in a few hours.

Di

Claus said...

The Christmas cactus!! So great to see it blooming, once again, as beautifully as always. Indeed, Christmas time is just around the corner.
Have a great day!!

Brian Miller said...

ah and beautiful it is...thankful for you this year...smiles.

Anonymous said...

Wow - what a fabulous pink creation that flower is!

Even if you're not celebrating, I'm wishing you an extra special day today.

Julie Hibbard said...

Grateful for YOU, my friend!

adrielleroyale said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you! What a beautiful sign of the coming holiday! May you be filled with gratefulness even as you are a half a world away :)

S. Susan Deborah said...

The pink almost touches me from the screen. What lovely flowers for today, dear Zuzana.

Wishing you love eternally,
Susan

Myrna R. said...

What a truly beautiful flower.

Happy Thanksgiving to you. I'm grateful that I found your blog.

Unknown said...

I will still send you a Happy Thanksgiving, Zuzana. You are a sweet soul and it is always comforting to stop by here and consider your kind thoughts! xoxo! :)

Sumandebray said...

good to see such colors!
The flowers are so refreshing!
I remember your last thanksgiving day post.....

tony said...

Hey Zuzana,Have A Fine Weekend.It is Cold but very sunny with me today.I hope the Sun also shines on You!

Unknown said...

ah... as a Canadian it isn't our holiday either, but all of this blog gratitude is so so infectious. and good.

I worked in a nursery for a bit and found a new love in the plants. I had never really noticed how splendid they truly are.

Unknown said...

Thank you Zuzanna!
Here's wishing you a most wonderful entry into the season of magic! Your Christmas Cactus is lovely!
Deb~

A Plain Observer said...

that's some gorgeous cactus!
Happy Thanksgiving! Definitely an American tradition and a very catchy one.

Rustique Gal said...

Dear Zuzana,
Your Christmas Cactus is just gorgeous, which reminds me that I have one chilling on the porch-I hope I haven't killed it! Beautiful pictures!
Our meal was debauchery at it's best-27 different foods. We need a meal planner! It seems that everyone has their own favorites and some have allergies and some are vegetarians and some don't eat dairy...I'm going back to salad today! Have a great weekend, friend!
Sherry

Betsy Brock said...

I just bought a beautiful big one covered in blossoms and buds! Any hints on keeping it alive? I hear you don't water them until very dry. Yours is gorgeous!

Laura said...

Thank YOU Zuzana, and thank extra for participating in the quilt and as a guest blogger this month...what blessing it is to get to know you more and more all the time.

sprinkles said...

That Christmas cactus is beautiful!

SandyCarlson said...

Your cactus is thriving. Very beautiful. Thanks for the Thanksgiving greeting, too!

Jerry said...

What a wonderful, vivid portent of the holiday season. The Christmas Cactus.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

your images are breath taking,
Happy Belated Thanksgiving Day.
Blessings fly your way.

awards/treats 4 u

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

It is gorgeous! I have one in my dining room but it has only TWO blooms on it! You must have a secret to the success of this beauty!
Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Rajesh said...

Happy Thanksgiving.

steviewren said...

Zuzana, I wish you could have been with us in the mountains for Thanksgiving. It was my first time to spend the holiday away from home...but I was with family and that's what matters.

It's been a long time since I was last in the Smokies. The mountains were beautiful. I cried as I was driving away this morning. I wish I could have stayed longer.

Zuzana said...

Elizabeth, Sandy, artswebshow, Doreen, Hilary, Paul, Di, Claudia, Brian, ladyfi, Julie, adrielle, Susan, Myrna, Michael, Sumandebray, tony, deb, Deborah, Myriam, Sherry, Betsy, Laura, sprinkles, Sandy, Jerry, Jingle, Jill, Rajesh and Stevie – thank you for your kind wishes and compliments on my Christmas cactus.
It was given to me as a gift 4 years ago and has since then grown to quadruple its size. I love when I start seeing the first buds in early November, knowing that the Holidays will soon begin.

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving - thank you for taking the time between the celebration to stop by here.;))
Xoxo
Zuzana

Cheryl Kohan said...

Of course your photos are as beautiful as ever. I'm late reading this post but I'm going to unabashedly include myself as one of your American friends and say, "thank you for the Thanksgiving wishes." You are sweet.

Zuzana said...

Dear Cheryl, thank you so much, of course you are!!;)) Hope you had a great Thanksgiving,
xoxo