4.04.2011

Mosaic Monday

“Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits.”
-Carl Sandburg


Hello & Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I do not know about your neck of the woods, but it is really beginning to feel like spring here in CNY - YEAH! Everyone has different memories and ideas of spring, that is what makes life so interesting. To me, hyacinths are the true harbinger of spring - especially grape hyacinths. Seeing those cute little clusters poking out of the ground is always a welcome site, plus the scent is so delightful. What is your image of spring? Enjoy!

Hyacinths

Facts about hyacinths:

* Origin of the Hyacinth, according to Greek legend:

Two of the gods, Apollo and Zephyr, adored a handsome young Greek called Hyakinthos. Apollo was teaching Hyakinthos the art of throwing a discus.

Zephyr, who was the god of the west wind, was overcome with jealousy and he blew the discus back. It struck Hyakinthos on the head and killed him. From his blood grew a flower, which the sun god Apollo named after him.

* The word 'Hyacinth' has also surfaced in an ancient language (called 'Thracopelasgian'), which was spoken 4,000 years ago.

* The wild Hyacinth is a native of Turkey and the Middle East, along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. Hyacinths were grown in Europe in the time of the Greeks and Romans. Both Homer and Virgil noted the sweet fragrance.

* After their initial introduction to Europe, the Hyacinth faded from history, and did not reappear until the 16th century. It was reintroduced into Western Europe from Turkey and Iran. Leonhardt Rauwolf, (a German doctor) collected some Hyacinths when he visited Turkey in 1573.

* Hyacinths have been cultivated commercially since the second half of the 16th century. They became very popular in 18th and early 19th century Europe.

* The bulbs are grown commercially in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

* The normal bloom time for Hyacinths is March to April.

* March 7th is the World Hyacinth Day.

* The Hyacinth flower symbolizes sport or play, and the blue Hyacinth signifies sincerity.


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

6 comments:

Sheena said...

Love Hyacinths, nice post!!

bluedaisyglass said...

I can practically smell those hyacinths.I got some for Mother's Day in the UK yesterday.

Amanda said...

mmmm.. gorgeous flowers!

PoetessWug said...

My first glimpses and assurances that it's Spring are the robins hopping around in my backyard and the forsythia everywhere...accompanied by my non-stop sneezing! ^_^

donnarose said...

beautiful
put in bulbs for a bell shaped hyacinth that my mama gave me but won't know if they will take until next spring

sarah-74 said...

lovely flower,unfortuately i never seem able to grow anything