An Orchid, Winslow Homer and Intrigue #10

I love a mystery…

and I had a lot of fun unravelling this one.

On a recent walk in Saigon, 

I came across this pink beauty.

It was and is extraordinary.

I did a quick google search and discovered 

that it is called the Hong Kong Orchid,

also known as Bauhinia blakeana.

Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Saigon, Vietnam

Enter Sir Henry and Lady Edith Blake

Sir Henry A and Lady Blake, 1888
Appeared in the Queensland Figaro
Source

The flower is named for enthusiastic botanists, Sir Henry and Lady Edith Blake. Sir Henry was the British Governor of Hong Kong(1898-1903). The naming of the tree was in recognition of their contribution to the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. 

I was curious about Sir Henry and Lady Edith and decided to read further…

Edith was born in Newtown, Anner, Ireland in 1845. Her family were moderately wealthy landowners and had plans for Edith. As it turns out, Edith had plans of her own. While her parents were negotiating an arranged marriage, young Edith eloped in 1874 with Captain Henry Blake of the Royal Irish Constabulary. To say her parents were not happy is an understatement. Unhappy with the marriage and Blakes lower social status, they disinherited her. 

This left poor Edith and Captain Blake to look after Blakes twelve siblings and widowed mother. Fortunately, Captain Blake was destined for greater things. At one point in his career he was appointed Special Magistrate, a position that I liken to the Sheriff of Nottingham. He was not well liked and was often under threat of assassination. Edith stood by her man through it all, carrying a concealed revolver when she accompanied her husband on his duties. 

Years later, Blake entered the Colonial Service of the British Empire, serving terms as Governor of the Bahamas in 1884-1887, Governor of Jamaica 1889-1897, Governor of Newfoundland 1887-1889, Governor of Hong Kong 1898-1903 and Governor of Ceylon 1903-1907.

During this time, Lady Edith took an avid interest in fauna and flora and painted nearly 200 watercolours. Her work can be viewed at the Natural History Museum in London. 

Edith Blake (1845-1928)

Giant sphinx moth (Cocytius antaeus antaeus Drury). 1892

 Watercolour on Paper, 300 x 25mm

The Natural History Museum, London
source

Onwards to Myrtle Grove, 

Youghal, County Cork, Ireland

Myrtle Grove
Youghal, County Cork, Ireland

Sir Henry and Lady Edith retired to Myrtle Grove in 1907. Myrtle Grove was a home once owned by Oliver Cromwell and Sir Walter Raleigh, in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. They lived happily until Henry's passing in 1918. Edith passed away in 1926. Their final resting place, is the garden at Myrtle Grove. 

Fast forward to 1980..

The Winslow Homer Mystery

During Sir Henry and Lady Edith Blakes time in the Bahamas, Winslow Homer painted a scene of their children. It is a controversial painting with an interesting story. Stolen or lost..and long forgotten, the painting was discovered on a rubbish tip by a fisherman and his daughter in County Cork, Ireland in 1980. From there it made an appearance on Antiques Roadshow, in Althorp, England where it was said to be a Winslow Homer original and of considerable value. By 2009 it was up for sale at Sotheby's in New York. It was down to the wire and about to be sold when at the last minute, the sale was stopped. Enter the descendants of Sir Henry and Lady Edith Blake. It is a saga that is still going on. It's a doozy. If you are interested, you can read the full story here.  

Children of Sir Henry and Lady Edith Blake
Bahamas, 1885
Painted by Winslow Homer
source

Almost done...

When I read that the leaf of the Hong Kong Orchid tree 

is called the "clever leaf"

and is often used as a bookmark to bring good luck in studies…

I went and collected a bunch.

I decided you can never have enough bookmarks. 

and then..when I arrived in Hong Kong..

I put the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens 

at the top of my "to do" list.

And today,  I found it!

Bauhinia blakeana

And there you have it, all of this as a result of a walk 

around our neighbourood in Vietnam.

What a difference a walk makes…especially today, 

for I found another beauty…and it's love.

:)

Signing off…with post #10

28 Day Writing Challenge

From Shangri-La

Hong Kong time

28 Day Writing Challenge
Posts to Date
click on title to read

#1 A 28 Day Writing Challenge

# 2 Morning Rituals and Being Still

#3 Building a Dream House...Tahilla Farm

#4 Rolling Merrily Along 
#5 The Night Owl
#6 Making Friends...in your 50's
#7 A Lotus Love Thank You

# 8 What's your vote?

#9 Happy Trails…Tahilla Farm

#10 An Orchid, Winslow Homer and Intrigue