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
Beautiful flower, beautiful tale.
ReplyDeleteThat was the sweetest post. I love it. Attaching a story to something often changes everything. But I loved them anyway. And am right there with you on shoes and flowers...
ReplyDeleteSuch a heartbreaking story for such a beautiful flower.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story. I've been loving all your flower posts this week - such gorgeous images!
ReplyDeleteNext time I have a bunch of amaryllis I will think of this beautiful tale & see them in a whole new light. Lee :)
ReplyDeleteNice story & thanks for daily flower fix. x
ReplyDeleteThanks for more flowers...love them all!
ReplyDeleteThat is a gorgeous flower and of course, the story so perfect and tragic!
ReplyDeleteLoving this series on flowers!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely a delight to look at and read about.
What a beautiful and heartbreaking story. It will make me think diffrently everytime I see an Amaryllis now.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Judith~
This is a sad story but matches the special aura of this flower.
ReplyDeleteYes, I noticed you are a lover of flowers and shoes. Me too + few more things.
I try to control my love of shoes (specifically boots- drool) but love of flowers, no? I let that one loose.
Lovely post as usual. And a very happy Tuesday.
-m
lovely post ,
ReplyDeletexx
Love these Amaryllis. I too am much more familiar with the red varieties of the holiday season. We put them in the garden for the summer and fall and then bring them inside for Christmas flowering. I'm loving these posts on all the gorgeous flowers. I think I need a treat from the flower market
ReplyDeleteI love learning about the history of a flower. And this is a lovely flower for sure! I have really enjoyed your flower posts as I LOVE flowers as well. Spring is here and all of mine are becoming a happy riot of color in my backyard. It's a happy day!
ReplyDeleteThe soft pink is so beautiful, my favorite. I will look at Amaryllis in a different way, what a beautiful story!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Nola
The Bloom Girls
Your flower series is breathtaking! Must France have the best of everything? It is too far away. Thanks for sending us cyber bouquets to dream about.
ReplyDeleteCatherine
oh,I love this legend,though heart breaking,literally,it charms-also the color of these flowers are marvelous. thanks for sharing and for the great photo! salut
ReplyDelete"A" is for Adore! Love the photo as I have never seen one this colour and love the background story, though sad. We're all getting so flower-savy with your posts this week Vicki.
ReplyDeletePlease stop by my blog and pick up an award that you can share with others if you should decide to do so.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful amaryllis! I love them too! Cannot wait for the next one!
ReplyDeletean idea ... do you like photo collages? you could make one including all these gorgeous pictures, as a culmination for 'flowers from Provence' topic :-)oh, and there might be one for spring, one for summer flowers and one for wild flowers.
Irina
The colour is absolutely stunning! So interesting to read the tale behind this beautiful flower. Amanda x
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are beautiful and so is the story. x
ReplyDeleteVicki- I am dying over these beautiful blooms... it makes me long for my own garden even more now. Balcony pots aren't cutting it for me! I am in London still where the flowers are in full bloom- it is spectacular... xo
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely myth and yes sad too...ah love is so cruel at times!
ReplyDelete:-)
These are beautiful flowers! Do you have any idea what type of Amaryllis this is? I have never seen any like it. You're pictures are providing the inspiration I need to keep working hard and hauling dirt around the garden, so someday I might have such beautiful flowers myself! My dog just chewed up the first three fruit trees we planted in our small orchard...I hope the flowers and garden veggies fare better.
ReplyDeleteErin I am sorry I don't know the variety - I find these amaryllis very infrequently - they are so delicate in colour and shading, quite different to the red or apricot ones I normally find.
ReplyDeleteOh those colours. I was at the flower shop in Liberty, London not long ago and they had cabbage roses in just these colours. I just had to photograph them.
ReplyDeleteI love amaryllis too. This spring I was in Netherland and visited the Keukenhof garden, a huge park where you can see many species of tulips and amaryllis. I bought an amaryllis bulb, and now ... it's a wondeful flowering plant !
ReplyDeleteI love your Blog !!!!
ReplyDeleteJ'adore cettes images
elle sont très charmant!!!
From today i am your follower!!!
Hugs
Daniela "DREAM SHABBY CHIC" MILANO