Hyacinths

Hyacinths 

The hyacinth looks so close to ready.

Two days later

Another two days

Hyacinths are quite an old fashioned flower, which have been out of fashion since forever. I love them. They may look rather odd, like maybe your Grandmother crocheted them. I grow them in my gardens, all the different colours. They look a little odd and out of place but the scent is just so beautifully delicious. As delightful as bluebells, just a stronger version.

Finally ready and smelling great

Originally from the Mediterranean and named after Hyakinthos, a young boy accidentally killed by the god Apollo in a discuss throwing competition. Apollo would not allow Hades to claim Hyakinthos's body, and instead Apollo used his remains to create the flower from.

Smelling so delicious

In the 18th century in the Netherlands new colours of denser flower spikes with more deeply fragrant scent were developed. Before then they were all a turquoise blue colour.

Even my cat loves them

Hellebore and Daffodils

Hellebore

The snow still hasn't gone. A blanket of four or five inches still covers everything.

On close inspection my hellebore and daffodils have still survived.

Hellebore are also called Christmas Roses, and come from the Balkan region of Europe and so are quite frost resistant.  Some purist prefer the white type, but I like a bit of colour so the brighter and more purple/red the better.

Daffodil, or Narcissus may seem very ordinary plants to us these days as the bulbs are so cheap to purchase an.d once planted flower reliably ever year. They once were prized for their great beauty, which is why they share name with the character Narcissus, from Greek mythology who was so obsessed with his own beauty that he drowned in a pool as he stared at his own reflection. For me though the cheery yellow of the common varieties reminds me of childhood and the scent is delightful. 

At least the cat's seem to have finally got used to going out in the snow.

Daffodil

My two cat's being brave.