Flora, but no Fauna

(roses, 1.75" x 2.75")

Yesterday, with the help of my best bud, I did what some might call gardening. I am, by no means, a gardener. I don't like to weed, I can do without bugs and I really don't like to get dirt under my fingernails. But, since we are having visitors in a couple of short weeks, we thought it would be nice if the front entry look like someone cared about it. *smile*

With that inspiration, I submit these carves for your approval. They were originally carved to replace a traditional series called Flingin' Flowers. Unfortunately, I have never gotten back to the park to replace the original letterboxes, and I have retired the series (which was planted for an event several years ago). Having these little babies sitting in my stamp drawer has been beneficial...they have snuck onto a few LTCs as nice background stamps.

(tulips, 1" x 3")

(daisies, 2" x 2.5")

(carnations, 1.75" square)

As a post-script, have you ever wondered about the term flora and fauna? If so, wonder no more...

Flora and fauna refer to plant and wildlife, respectively. The indigenous plant and wildlife of a geographical region is often referred to as that region’s flora and fauna. Both are collective terms, referring to groups of plant or wildlife specific to a region or a time period. For example, the flora and fauna of a warm region may consist of tropical to warm-temperate vegetation and exotic species of birds.

By definition, flora is a word of Latin origin referring to Flora, the goddess of flowers. Flora can refer to a group of plants, a disquisition of a group of plants, as well as to bacteria. Flora is the root of the word floral, which means pertaining to flowers. Fauna can refer to the animal life or classification of animals of a certain region, time period, or environment. Fauna is also of Latin origin. In Roman Mythology Fauna was the sister of Faunus, a good spirit of the forest and plains.

The flora and fauna of any given region is usually explained in biological terms to include the genus and species of plant and animal life, their preferred growing or breeding habits, and their connection to one another in the environment as well. In addition to geographical groupings, environment also helps further classifications of flora and fauna. For example, aquatic flora and fauna of a region refers to the plant and animal life found in the waters in or surrounding a geographic region.

And, now we know.