Blooming Beauties

Flowers are one of the most beautiful parts of God’s creation. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They also remind us how much God cares for us. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “See how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in all his royal robes was dressed like one of these flowers. If that is how God dresses the wild grass, won’t he dress you even better?” (Matt. 6:28-30, NIrV). The next time you see a dandelion or a rose, remember how much God loves you!

Fun Flower Facts

• There are about 400,000 different kinds of flowers in the world.
• The world’s smallest flower is the watermeal, a type of duckweed. The flowers are so small it would take more than 5,000 of them to fill a thimble!
• The world’s biggest flower is Rafflesia arnoldii, the corpse lily. It grows in Southeast Asia and its flowers can be over 39 inches (100 cm) wide
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and artichokes are actually flowers!

Flower or Animal?

Some flowers look a lot like other things. The bird-of-paradise flower looks like the bird it’s named after. The monkey face orchid looks like—you guessed it—a monkey’s face! Read more about flowers that look like animals at tinyurl.com/FlowerLookalikes.

Tulip Mania

Before the 1500s there were no tulips in Europe. But after people brought them to the Netherlands from Turkey in the 1600s, tulips became so popular that their prices soared. At one point just one bulb of a tulip called Semper Augustus cost 10,000 guilders—enough to buy one of the biggest, fanciest homes in Amsterdam! Can you imagine that? Today, tulips are so common that one bulb costs less than a dollar.

Draw Your Own Flowers

Want to learn how to draw a rose? Check out the easy step-by-step instructions at tinyurl.com/BannerRose and give it a try! Or look for the book Draw 50 Flowers, Trees, and Other Plants by Lee J. Ames at your public library.