Time Often Changes Things

  It is nigh on springtime (or so we hope) and the Hyacinths are starting to bud.  My Hyacinths were a gift from my sweet daughter-in-law, Joanna.  These flowers have been through a tough time in recent years what with voles chewing the bulbs and grasshoppers munching on the the tops.  Still each year, they shoot forth green leaves and then stems filled with buds.  With spring, the blooms open into the lovely lavender flowers that herald the season.  

  Years ago, Hyacinth became quite popular as a name for baby girls. There was a time when it was high fashion to name little girls after flowers.  Violet, Pansy, Rose, Hyacinth, Althea rose to the top of the list. This seems rather ironic when referring to the name Hyacinth.  By all rights, the name should be attached to a little boy.  According to Greek Mythology, Hyacinth was a lad loved by both the god, Apollo, and by the West Wind, Zephyr.  One day, Apollo and Hyacinth were throwing the discus in a friendly competition.  After one throw by Apollo, Hyacinth ran after the discus and was struck down and died. It seems that through a fit of jealousy, the discus had been blown astray by a stiff wind from Zephyr.  Determined not to let Hyacinth be lost forever, Apollo caused a flower to bloom from the spilled blood of the young lad.  So, thinking about it, the flower was named after a young man. Hyacinth should be a guy's name but, for the life of me, I never recall one male ever being named thus.  Every Hyacinth, real or fictitious, (with the exception of the original) has been female!  Strange!  So over the years, the name has changed from male to female.  
   
   The fact that time changes a lot of things including names, it has never changed the fact that the flowers are some of my favorites. 

Touches of Spring!

Life is good here on the Bayou..every day, the birds sing, flowers bloom and the world revolves at my command..well..two out of three is not bad..is it? I am believing it is Spring..I want it to be so therefore I am doing all the things that I know in my gut should be put off at least for a few more weeks. Planting the garden and pulling out all of the old mulch might be tasks better suited for the end of March and not the end of February. The weather is not helping one bit in this situation, though. After nice rain before dawn, today's temperature reached 82 degrees. Now you tell me, does that seem like winter weather to you?

And while we are speaking of flowers blooming, a few rogue daffodils have popped up almost over night. These are not from the bulbs that my daughter-in-law just sent to me but a few that have tried their best to revive themselves after being brutally scathed by Hurricane Katrina. Now the bright yellow blossoms bob happily in the Bay breeze. Growing up, I remember these being called Jonquils..I am not sure that there is any difference in Jonquils and Daffodils. I am just happy to have anything blooming in the yard and the bright sunny yellow of these are sure to brighten anyone's mood!

Just around the corner from the Daffodil/Jonquil or whatever, the Hyacinths that my precious daughter-in-law brought me are starting to bloom, too. (She shares a lot of plants with me and I appreciate each one!) They are small blooms this year so I am seriously thinking that as soon as these blooms are spent, I will dig up all of the bulbs. Perhaps a more fertile place would suit them better..also, a little more sunshine might do them some good. I love the smell of the Hyacinths and would like them near the windows so I can enjoy them more often. A windowbox might be a perfect place!

Also, blooming are the Summer Snowflakes or Leucojums. I had always called these Snowdrops until just recently. I was told that although they are related, these were actually a different plant. A little research proved the point and although Leucojum is a mite hard for me to remember, Snowflakes..I can handle! These hardy little plants always seem to herald in the Spring with their little heads bowed in prayer. Perhaps they are thankful that the Winter chill has passed. The tiny white flower petals each have a dot of green which my Aunt Helen used to tell me was painted there by the "Garden Faeries"! I think maybe she was right!