"Pomona" by minoukatze
“Pomona’s themes are rest, pleasure, and nature. Her symbols are all flowers and gardens. A Roman Goddess of orchards and gardens, Pomona is symbolized by all gardening implements. Pomona’s consort was Vertumnus, who likewise presided over gardens. Together they embody the fruitful earth, from which we gather physical and spiritual sustenance. First fruits are traditionally offered to them in gratitude.
Public games in ancient Rome were dedicated to taking a much needed rest from toil and war. Ludi was a segment of the festival that celebrated the beauty of flowers before people returned to the fields and their labors. So, wear a floral- or leafy print outfit today and visit a greenhouse or an arboretum. Take time out to literally smell the flowers and thank Pomona for the simple pleasure this provides.
Make yourself a Pomona oil to dab on anytime you want to better appreciate nature or cultivate some diversion from your normal routine. Prepare this from the petals of as many different flowers as you can find, gathered early in the day. Steep the petals in warm oil until they turn translucent, then strain. Repeat and add essential oils (fruity ones for Pomona are ideal) to accentuate the aroma and energy you’ve created.”
(Patricia Telesco, “365 Goddess: a daily guide to the magic and inspiration of the goddess”.)
The Pomona tapestry was designed by William Morris (1834 - 1896) and Edward Burne-Jones (1833 - 1898) in 1885. It depicts Pomona, the goddess of fruits and harvests.
“Pomona was a Goddess of fruitful abundance in ancient Roman religion and myth. Her name comes from the Latin word pomum, “fruit,” specifically orchard fruit. (“Pomme” is the French word for “apple”.) She was said to be a wood nymph and a part of the Numia, guardian spirits who watch over people, places, or homes. She scorned the love of the woodland gods Silvanus and Picus, but married Vertumnus after he tricked Her, disguised as an old woman. She and Vertumnus shared a festival held on August 13th. Her high priest was called the flamen Pomonalis. The pruning knife was Her attribute. There is a grove that is sacred to Her called the Pomonal, located not far from Ostia, the ancient port of Rome.
Pomona was the Goddess of fruit trees, garden, and orchards. Unlike many other Roman Goddesses and gods, She does not have a Greek counterpart. She watches over and protects fruit trees and cares for their cultivation. She was not actually associated with the harvest of fruits itself, but with the flourishing of the fruit trees.” [1]
“Despite her being a rather obscure deity, Pomona’s likeness appears many times in classical art, including paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt, and a number of sculptures. She is typically represented as a lovely maiden with an armful of fruit and a pruning knife in one hand.
In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Professor Sprout, the teacher of Herbology — the study of magical plants — is named Pomona.” [2]
Sources:
Wigington, Patti. About.com Paganism/Wicca, “Pomona, Goddess Apples“.
Wikipedia, “Pomona“.
Suggested Links:
Goddess-Guide.com, “Pomona“.
Raine, Lauren. Rainwalker Studio, “Pomona – Roman Goddess of Agriculture and Abundance“.
Took, Thalia. A-Muse-ing Grace Gallery, “Pomona“.
Took, Thalia. A-Muse-ing Grace Gallery, “Pomona Tale“.
Journeying to the Goddess 
I always thought the earliest version of Venus (before her melding with Aphrodite) was the fruits and orchards Goddess in Rome. Maybe she was the harvest aspect? Either way, I’ll be enjoying this Face of the Goddess today, as the weather is beautiful and all of the trees and orchards are in bloom around here. It’s a beautiful day.
You are correct Lady Imbrium. According to Encyclopedia Mythica, “Venus is the Roman Goddess of love and beauty, but originally a vegetation Goddess and patroness of gardens and vineyards who had no original myths of Her own. Later, under Greek influence, She was equated with Aphrodite and assumed many of Her aspects.” From what I found on Pomona, She deals more with the flowering of the fruit trees and carries a pruning knife. She is a minor Goddess, so perhaps She rules over this one part and aspect of the bigger whole.
Enjoy your day! The weather is gorgeous today and we too will be enjoying the outdoors!
So, I just now found this and thought it was pretty enlightening:
“Unlike the Greek deities the original Roman goddesses did not have distinctive personalities, human form, family histories or myths about their lives. Instead these deities were manifestations of what the Romans termed “numina”, the divine essence that could be found in all living things and places. An example of the Numina is Pomona the Goddess of Fruit trees, orchards and gardens.
This belief in numina helps explain why there were so many early Roman deities, as each represented different aspects of the natural world.
Early Roman mythology did not contain tales of the lives of magical gods. Instead they were presented as the history of Rome’s creation and concerntrated on the rituals and religious practices.
The nature of these early Roman deities was also closely linked to the physical needs of people, concentrating on areas like the agriculture and motherhood.
Remaining accounts of early worship of these beings suggests it was highly ritualized to reflect the complex relationships between different groups of gods.
The Romans also had numerous festivals dedicated to their different gods and goddesses.
Later the Romans borrowed heavily from other traditions especially the Greeks. However it was the rule of Rome by the Etrusian kings that was first to influence Roman worship. They began by adapting three of the Etruscan gods and making them the focus of their religion. This triad included Juno and Minerva.
As the Roman Empire continued to expand they came into contact with new belief systems and ideas. Instead of destroying these religions and cults they absorbed and adopted many of them, including those of the Greeks.
This explains why many Roman Deities have Greek equivalents. Including Venus, (Aphrodite), Ceres, (Demeter), Diana (Artemis)and Vesta (Hestia)” (Goddess-Guide.com, “Roman Goddesses” retrieved from http://www.goddess-guide.com/roman-goddesses.html).