Nasturtium

This is nasturtium, one of the best garden flowers available to the horticulturally-minded Englishman. Easy to grow, they spread and flower profusely. Yet have you heard of the Elizabeth Linnaeus Phenomenon? It is when one beholds the flowers at dusk, and they appears to glow, emitting little flashes of light. Some have attributed this to electrical charge, but it is now known to be an optical illusion caused by the contrast between the flowers’ bright orange or red, and the leaves‘ green. I’ll confess to not experiencing it myself, but the colour’s boldness certainly contrasts with the more sedate chlorophyll of the foliage.

Just as some attributed special powers to the nasturtium based on what they thought they saw, so we too must guard against jumping to conclusions based on what appearance. What we ‘see’ often misleads and causes us to make fanciful claims. We Christians believe in what we cannot see, and love Him whom we cannot currently behold:

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

One day, we shall see Him, and He shall be brighter and more lovely than even this bold boom.