Cross Town

I was looking for information on how Christmas has so many colours associated with it.  There's the red and green, blue, and white for snow.  I came upon this overview of  crosses and thought it was interesting.  Some of the crosses are so complicated in their meaning. We return to our simpler world of the Christmas season and our pictures today are Centennial Greenhouses' Christmas display.  They are located in the west end of Toronto.   The Cross symbolises that Christians believe Jesus Christ died for everyone on a Cross. The Latin Cross, also sometimes called the Roman Cross. The base of the Cross has three steps that symbolise faith, hope, and love. The Irish or Celtic Cross is a normal cross with a circle in the middle to symbolise eternity. The Triumphant Cross represents the earth with the cross on top. It symbolises Jesus is triumphant over anything we can face in the world. The Jerusalem Cross was worn by the crusaders going to Jerusalem, in the middle ages. It can symbolise the Four Gospels in the Bible, the spread of the Gospel to the four corners of the earth or the five wounds of Jesus when he died on the cross. The Eastern Cross is the Suppedaneium cross with three horizontal crossbeams,  The top represents the plate inscribed with INRI, and the bottom, a footrest. There is more complexity to the story at wikipedia's orthodox cross entry  The Furca or Upsilon Cross comes from the Greek letter Y . It is also called The Thieves' Cross from the two robbers who were crucified on each side of Jesus. It also symbolises the choice between good and evil.

Beautiful Ruffles

Here's a benefit of being a photographer - all those wonderful images parade themselves all winter long, and remind me of the great gardens, flowers and weather we have starting in March.  This is an Hibiscus from the Centennial Gardens in Toronto. 

Loving those Christmas Poinsettias at Centennial Park Conservatory

Centennial Park Conservatory in the west end of Toronto (Renforth and Rathburn area) seems to always have the best display of the most unusual Poinsettias.  This year too!  The new hybrid is a luscious two toned red and pink version.  

This year's new flower:

Tropical mist and poinsettias seem to go splendidly together on a snowy day.

December Celebrations Start with the December Calendar

December is such a celebration time full of visual delights.  Here is the start with the December Calendar.

November is Chrysanthemum Month

Many people think of November as a sad time because the flowers are gone from the garden.  It's true that the gardens are losing their charm, the trees their leaves, and the cold winds are starting to blow.  I go indoors in November to the Conservatories and Greenhouses to find the Chrysanthemum Celebrations.  Today's images are from the Centennial Greenhouse in west-end Toronto, where there's a beautiful Chrysanthemum Festival on during November.

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