Hibiscus.
The hibiscus is a big bush that can grow to ten foot tall. Hibiscus gets magnificent flowers of either reds, pinks, whites, some shades of each, or perhaps yellow. The blooms can grow in groups and each blossom can be as large as ten inches wide. It’s native to North America and loves a moist soil and full sun and can bloom three seasons. But the flowers do not last long.
There are so many legends that surround hibiscus, but for me, it is a natural sign of friendship, thoughtfulness. It also shows the kindness of its owner to share the beauty of the flower with everyone.
Tommy Snow. Mr. Snow is a Highlands resident best known for his incredible generosity of time and talent to the fire department. Or his generosity with more of that time to his church, As an usher there, you know you’re going to be greeted with a friendly smile and a warm hello as you come in the door.
He’s also known for his Christmas decorations. There isn’t a house in town that is more colorful, more brilliant, more fun, more festive of the Christmas season than the Snow home in the Waterwitch section.
But Tom must also be a great gardener and has hibiscus bushes by his house.
So it seemed natural for this naturally generous man to pluck a few blossoms, add a few wildflowers, put them in a jar and give them to Vera and Cathy, the Girls at the Girls Café. He knew they would set them on the counter for everyone to enjoy and admire.
But the hibiscus bloom, possibly because of its size and beauty, is short-lived. So when the Girls Café would be closed for two days, Cathy and Vera asked if I wanted to take home Tom’s gift for its last couple of days of blooming. I accepted gratefully and admired the blooms for another couple of days.
Seeing Tom at a church event, I explained the Girls loved the flowers so much they gave them to me when the café would be closed and no one would be able to enjoy them. So I also thanked him and told him how beautiful they were.
And that’s why on the next Sunday when I saw Tom Snow in Church once again, he had a bouquet of hibiscus for me to take home.
Thoughtful, considerate, and happy knowing he could share the beauty of the flowers he grew at home with so many people.
It all prompted me to look up information and legends about this flower, since I knew there must be some. There are.
The hibiscus can be purchased as an extract and is an herbal tea with a tart flavor like cranberries. The tea can be served either hot or cold. Research has shown the tea made from hibiscus extract has a broad range of health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to weight loss, and is beneficial in fighting bacteria and improving heart health.
It seems that in addition to being native to North America, hibiscus is also native to Asia, and many countries have great legends and stories about the plant that belongs to the Malvaceous family.
The name comes from the Greek “hikiscus” and was named by Pedanius Dioscorides, a famous botanist, author and physician in the armed forces in the first century. He wrote De Materia Medica, an early source of botany and pharmaceutical knowledge and terminology for centuries, citing how herbs and flowers are medicinal as well as beautiful.
In most cultures, the hibiscus is associated with goodness and good things, sometimes, like in China, with fame, glory and wealth, or in Malaysia, where it is a sign of vitality. In Korea, the hibiscus is a sign of mortality. Hawaiians consider that the flower depicts power, respect and hospitality, and in Singapore, it is known as Bunga Raya, the flower of celebration. In Victorian England, hibiscus simply symbolized beauty.
Just about every culture sees hibiscus as a flower that repels negativity and the evil eye and ancients would carry packs of dried petals to attract good luck or love. Wizards and witches and those into sorcery and witchcraft use it to attract lust and meaningful dreams. But psychics believe putting dry petals of the flower in a bowl helps to visualize the future and helps attract good spirits. It is often used in bridal wreaths for marriage ceremonies to symbolize blessings for the married couple.
All of which may be true, none of which may be true, but for me, the hibiscus will always represent friendship, thoughtfulness, and sharing something beautiful.
Thank you, Vera and Cathy, for giving me your plant. And thank you Tommy Snow, for cutting me fresh ones simply because you heard a person say how beautiful they are.
