# What is the significance of a single \[red\] flower growing on a wasteland? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926 "2005-07-18T01:15:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/1 "2005-07-18T01:15:10Z")
I came across such a thing today. The wasteland was a gravelly carpark and I swear this flower was the only one growing on the entire plot. I resisted the urge to pluck it. What allowed this sole flower to grow there? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/2 "2005-07-18T01:20:29Z")
The Tower did. Was there a gunslinger nearby? It’s Ka, man. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/3 "2005-07-18T01:26:13Z")
The power of love. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/4 "2005-07-18T01:26:58Z")
Flanders Field, the Reader’s Digest version. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/5 "2005-07-18T01:30:10Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > It’s Ka, man. [This is Ka](http://www.tuning-e35.cz/images/produkt/pl_znac/ford/Ford-Ka-02.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/6 "2005-07-18T01:49:06Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > [This is Ka](http://www.tuning-e35.cz/images/produkt/pl_znac/ford/Ford-Ka-02.jpg). That’s just not right. Everyone knows Ka is a [black dog!](http://www.friedmanarchives.com/Animals/images/Black%20Dog.jpg) And here we see [**lobsang** in the drawers (or wastelands) coming upon the rose.](http://www.thedarktower.net/artwork/3/book3-03.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/7 "2005-07-18T03:59:53Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Flanders Field, the Reader’s Digest version. [ > [@](#): > > In Flanders Fields > by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. (1872-1918) > Canadian Army > > In Flanders fields the poppies blow > Between the crosses, row on row, > That mark our place; and in the sky > The larks, still bravely singing, fly > Scarce heard amid the guns below. ]([nichecom.com is for sale | HugeDomains](http://www.nichecom.com/~vfw/ff.html))It’s a common poem to recite on Memorial day, when we honor those who died serving their countries in the armed forces. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/8 "2005-07-18T04:07:52Z")
What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man, You cannot say, or guess, for you know only A heap of broken images, where the sun beats, And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief, And the dry stone no sound of water. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/9 "2005-07-18T05:39:10Z")
Then came I into a certain field Where the devil’s paint-brush spread 'Mid the gray and green of the rolling hills A flaring splotch of red,– An evil omen, a bloody sign, And a token of many dead. I saw in a vision the field-gray horde Break forth at the devil’s hour, And trample the earth into crimson mud In the rage of the Will to Power,– All this I dreamed in the valley of Kyll, At the sign of the blood-red flower. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-significance-of-a-single-red-flower-growing-on-a-wasteland/312926/10 "2005-07-18T16:57:55Z")
Was all that helpful, **Lobsang**? 😉