Before Easter I was researching palm plants because I was curious about the use and meaning of palms at Easter. Along the way, I discovered the plant seen above. This came to my attention because one of its common names is Ponytail Palm. It is not really in the palm family. I prefer to call it by another of its common names which is Elephant Foot. I ended up purchasing one because it is an attractive addition to a table in our living space.
While doing this research I also learned a little more about a quilt square I found among my mother-in-law's quilt supplies and fabrics. It was in a plastic bag with a note from where she had purchased it. It was made by a Hmong artist who had immigrated to Minnesota.It is pictured below.
Hmong elephant’s foot print on a flower cloth (paj ntaub).
The elephant foot motif can be found in many cultural items of the Hmong. Some have this motif as a tattoo.
This was learned during my casual research for my own edification, and I am definitely not an expert on the subject.
When I think about elephants I think about their strong matriarchs that can make or break the success of their family units.
Elephants keep crossing my path. Recently my husband bought me a bracelet with elephants and amethysts since it is my birthstone.
I am not going to read too much into the elephant symbols frequency in my life. I do come from a family of strong women, and I will leave it at that.
movingforwardslowly 