Flowering Vines
Protection
The Brilliant Bougainvilleas
There are many types of vines and they come in all sizes from those that attach their roots to walls, to those that twine around objects to others that climb to great heights to spill over arches and fences and even those that trail along the ground. Mother has named many beautiful vining plants and there are still many more whose significances are yet to be discovered. Unlocking the genetic codes of many species has led to breakthroughs in colour, size and beauty, especially in annual and perennial plants and there is so much more to come.
Originally I had thought of including many vines in one article but I see now that this would become too unwieldy as there are so many vines that Mother named. This article, therefore will concentrate on the significances of one species, Bougainvillea, Protection.
Mother gave a ‘General Significance’ to many flowering plants with a wide colour range and She at times noted on Her commentary for a particular significance, toute les couleurs (all the colours) or ‘all the double colours’, etc., yet often She gave a name for each colour as well. We therefore have individual significances for fifteen different zinnias (Endurance) and sixteen petunias (Enthusiasm) and many other flowers with multiple significances such as bougainvillea. Therefore, a General Significance indicates that all the colours of a particular plant carry that significance.
The colours of the flowers often (but not always) correspond to a particular plane or area of the being. Without going into a long explanation of the various shades of colour here is an approximate range beginning at the bottom and ascending to the highest.
Dark red – Matter
Bright red – the physical
Purple, dark blue, violet, lavender – the vital
Pink – the psychic
Yellow – Most often the mind
Orange and gold – the Supermind
Light blue – the colour of Krishna and Sri Aurobindo and occasionally the higher realms of mind
White – most often represents purity, perfection, and integrality
Let us then begin with Protection, the bougainvillea. Bougainvilleas can be divided into three major groups and these are important to know.
Bougainvillea glabra – This species is ideal for container culture as the plants are compact and relatively dwarf.
B. specto-glabra – These are larger plants that do best in the ground and offer massive displays of colour in their flowering season.
B. spectabilis – These are the most vigorous of all and need a large area to grow and climb. Often they are seen cascading from huge trees, spilling over immense walls, etc.
Physical Protection
Is possible only with a total surrender to the Divine and the absence of all desire.
A grafted living bouquet of Protection!
Integral Protection
That which can be given only by the Divine
Physical Protection and Integral Protection
Notes on Bougainvillea Culture
Bougainvilleas are native to South America, especially Brazil, some parts of Peru and southern Argentina. In their native habitat they go through alternating periods of heavy rainfall and drought.
If one replicates this process when growing bougainvilleas in containers it is possible to have at least three or more flushes of bloom in one season.
Here is the technique used by horticulturists in India. After flowering start giving less water and space the intervals of watering farther apart each week until a few weeks have passed and then discontinue all watering. The leaves will droop and some will begin to fall off. This is the same cycle that the plants undergo in their native habitat. When the plant is completely and no moisture remains in the root ball, even if all the leaves have fallen, then fertilize and begin watering. Your bougainvillea will burst into bloom with profuse flowering. When the plant has completed its flowering cycle repeat the process again.
John Lucas, President of the Bougainvillea Society of America
John is the world’s expert in bougainvilleas. He is shown above with a grand display of bougainvilleas. His nursery, Tradewinds, in Florida, specializes in rare bougainvilleas.
Through careful hybridizing bougainvilleas are also available in shrub form. My teacher, Mr. B.A. Rama Rao, whom I remember with love, was my bougainvillea ‘guru’. He is now deceased but his hybridizing work and a small but excellent book he wrote on the subject is still with me. Rama Rao hybridized many dwarf cultivars and was famous for having at least 50 bougainvilleas in bloom throughout the year at the steps of the ‘Madras Club’. The sight was unforgettable as hardly a leaf could be seen, the plants were so covered in bloom. He was well known for his ability to bring a bougainvillea into bloom within a day of one’s birthday, throughout the year!
There are some excellent books on bougainvilleas in my library. Dr. B.P. Pal, whom I met in New Delhi when he kindly showed me his bougainvillea collection, wrote the first book with Dr. Vishnu Swarup in 1974, both revered horticulturists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in New Delhi. Their book is simply entitled, Bougainvilleas. B.A. Rama Rao’s book, A Handbook on Bougainvillea Culture followed in 1976, then an excellent work, Growing Bougainvilleas by Jan Iredell in Australia, then Bougainvilleas in India written and presented to me by Dr. S.C. Sharma of the National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow in 1996 on my photographic journey, and lastly, another fine reference work by Eric Simon entitled Brighten Up Your Life with Bougainvillea in 2005, a gift to me from John Lucas.
The actual flowers of bougainvillea are small, usually white, cream or light green and it is the bracts, modified leaves, which provide the colour.
Vital Protection
Surrender to the Divine is the best vital protection.
Attempt towards Protection
Attempt towards Protection
Attempt towards Protection
Irregular efforts are not always effective.
There are a number of bougainvilleas with double or split bracts in different shades to all of these Mother has given the significance Attempt towards Protection.
Protection of the Gods
Luminous and clear-visioned
Emotional Protection
Surrender to the Divine is the best emotional protection.
Discreet Protection
Does its work discreetly without drawing attention
Manifold Protection
A protection working not only on life as a whole but on each of its details.
‘Thimma’ a ‘sport’ of ‘Mary Palmer’ above. Note the variegated leaves that distinguish it.
Also Manifold Protection
There are now many forms with two or more colours on each bract.
Manifold Protection
Psychic Protection
The protection resulting from surrender to the Divine.
Triple Protection
Protection in the mind, the vital and the physical.
Integral Protection – Bougainvillea Shubra
Mary Helen and John Lucas sanding in front of B. Arborea, a tree form bougainvillea.
The top of B. arborea laden with blooms.
A lady in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. A. with her treasured bonsai.
Physical Protection – B. Royal Purple
This stunning bougainvillea was photographed growing almost entirely in lava on the Big Island of Hawaii.
I have glimpses from time to time of the power and relevance of a significance given by Mother even on the most physical level. As an example, there is no doubt that bougainvilleas grown closely together form an impenetrable barrier of protection.
There are hundreds of cultivars of bougainvillea and we are most fortunate to have ten of them given a special significance by Mother as well as a General significance.
Here are some of the many ways Protection can be grown and a living canvas of colours.
In a desert area of California
Daniel Wilms, Matrimandir Gardens worker in the bougainvillea
Collection at Nong Nooch Garden in Thailand.
In 1996 I travelled the length of India from the farthest southern points to the north, photographing bougainvilleas at all the gardens most famous for their collections.
Integral Protection
Protection
Let us give ourselves entirely and sincerely to the Divine and we shall enjoy His protection.
Below is a photographer’s continuing journey through the worlds of Protection with its beautiful colours and the ways in which bougainvilleas can be grown and displayed.
Triple Protection (with beautifully variegated leaves as well)
Emotional Protection
Attempt towards Protection
‘Mary Palmer Special’
Protection of the Gods
Bougainvillea spectabilis seedling towering 20-25 metres and completely covering the trees.
Variegated Pink Pixie