Tuesday, April 21, 2009

A is for Amaryllis...

I am most familiar with the deep red and scarlet varieties but when I saw these blush pink stems I was smitten. As you probably are aware by now I am a flower fiend - and apart from shoes - flowers are my next addiction. (Having said that I think I have many 'great loves' but they will have to wait for another day and another post.)
 
There is a lovely myth about the beginnings of the flower amaryllis - the red variety -and it goes something like this...Legend has it that this flower began as a shy and timid nymph. This nymph, called Amaryllis, fell in love with a beautiful shepherd boy, Alteo. He was one of those gorgeous guys with Herculean strength and the beauty of Apollo who sadly did not return Amaryllis' affections - familiar story, right. She thought that if she gave Alteo a unique flower that had never existed in the world before he would fall madly and deeply in love with her. How to do this?... There was only one place to find the answer, the Oracle at Delphi.

Following the advice she received, Amaryllis dressed in white and appeared at Alteo's door for thirty consecutive nights. Each night she waited patiently with her heart pierced by a golden arrow. When he finally opened the door, standing before him was a crimson flower, a breathtakingly beautiful flower that had sprung from the blood  of Amaryllis's heart. 

I feel like weeping over such a tragic and romantic tale but this explains why the flower amaryllis has come to represent pride, determination and radiant beauty today. xv

If you would like to know more about flowers and their meanings visit www.teleflora.com

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