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Love is spoken here, there and all over the world in the language of hearts in nature. Have you seen heart shaped leaves and flowers? Have you seen a heart in an empty space between tree leaves, in rocks, in cut trees, in tomatoes, in seeds? Enjoy the pictures of heart shaped items in this article. Not all of the hearts are perfect; a few of them are camouflaged.
(Editor's Note: This article was originally published on February 15, 2009. The author passed away a few years ago, so there will not be any responses to any questions or comments posted to the article.)
Look past the obvious to find hidden messages of love.
I have two sisters. During our childhood, they both collected a variety of items, including red dishes, heart shapes, owl figurines and mushroom decorations. My parents wanted me to collect something, so gift shopping would be easier. I did not want to collect because I loved so many things. (I still do not have a favorite color because I believe that every color is perfect in its proper setting.) Thirty years later, I finally realize that I collect plants and pictures I have taken. Strangely enough, I'm not sure that either one of my sisters collect anything now.
Since digital cameras were invented, I have enjoyed taking more pictures, and I have taken numerous pictures of heart-shaped items in nature. Some of these pictures are featured below. Many of the hearts are easy to spot; others will require a bit of imagination. There are hundreds of heart-shaped items in nature. In fact, you could plant a garden full of heart shapes. At the end of this article is a list of over fifty plants that have heart-shaped flowers, leaves, markings or seeds. If you plant even a third of these, your home or a home of a loved one could be surrounded with the symbol of love.
In modern society, the heart shape is associated with emotions, mainly kindness and love. That is why I enjoy taking pictures of heart-shaped objects, and I hope you enjoy these pictures as well.
Photo copyrighted: April Campbell Fall leaves Precious Moments Chapel in MO
Interesting note: The study of the qualitative characters or features of a plant, including leaf and flower shape is called plant morphology (or phytomorphology).
Even as you look past the leaves and flowers that are heart-shaped, you may find other little love messages in nature. Keep your eyes open and your imagination alive. I have posted a number of unusual heart pictures below. Enjoy the tour from the center heart of an apple and a spooky heart shape in the trees to a stone heart and a white heart in a purple Iris. Messages of love abound; if you are feeling sad or lonely, just look around. Or, better yet, plant yourself a garden full of heart shaped things. Share nature's Valentine surprise by sending a link to this article to a good friend today; just click on the link at the bottom of the article.
Photo copyrighted: April Campbell Cut apple
Photo copyrighted: April Campbell Cut tree
Photo copyrighted: April Campbell Amazing message in the trees. Photo was not edited.
Photo copyrighted: April Campbell A heart of stone.
Photo copyrighted: Susan Anderson Tomato 'Linnie's Oxheart'
Photo copyrighted: Margie Valenzuela 'Don's Other Love' Iris
Photo copyrighted: Michele Meyer Love in a Puff, Heartseed (Little white hearts imprinted on the seeds)
Photo copyrighted: ladyrowan Strawberry 'Sequoia'
During my research, I found many plants that sport the heart shape. Here is a list of some of them:
For detailed information on any of the above, please search Dave's Garden PlantFiles.
Thank you for reading this article. Please feel free to comment below.
About April
The garden in my head is better than the one in my yard. However, I plant at least one tree every year and have left every home with a little more green than it had before. I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I enjoy writing them.
Editor's note: Aunt_A passed away on 12-06-2010. We will miss her greatly and are thankful for her legacy of wonderful articles.
