hyacinths – the smell of spring

Every spring I always have to buy at least one potted hyacinth.  I love their vibrant colors and intoxicating smell.  (too bad there’s not a scratch and sniff option on the blog)

Here’s a little trivia I found out about them…  "The word hyacinth comes from the Greek Hyakinthos, a handsome young man who in Greek mythology was loved by the sun god Apollo. One day they were practicing throwing the discus but the jealous god of the West Wind, who was also in love with Hyakinthos, blew the discus back and it fatally wounded him. From his blood grew a flower which the god Apollo named after him.

It was brought to Western Europe in the 16th century and was first cultivated in Austria in the 1500’s. During the 17th and 18th centuries, like the tulip, it was to be found only in the collections of very rich flower collectors. Because of the hyacinth’s pervasive perfume, the bulbs were exorbitantly expensive. The bulbs are now grown in Holland and Great Britain."

I also stumbled upon this wonderful painting by Sarah Wimperis, a talented European artist.  She currently lives in Brittany, France and paints everyday. (what a lucky lady)

She posts all her latest works on her blog, muddy red shoes.