What's blooming at the Baltimore Conservatory?
Photo credit: Michael Lemmon
The hyacinth is one of the stars of the Spring Flower Show at Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory, now through April 11.
This is part of the hyacinth's story...
'Thou diest, Hyacinth, ' so spoke Apollo, 'robbed of thy youth by me. My lyre shall celebrate thee, my song shall tell thy fate, and thou shalt become a flower inscribed with my regrets.'
So ends the Greek myth of Apollo and Hyacinthus.
The two were taking turns throwing a discus. Zephyr the West Wind grew jealous of their friendship. He caused the discus to hit Hyacinthus in the head, instantly killing him.
Instead of letting Hyacinthus pass to the underworld of Hades, Apollo changed him into a small flower and allowed him to return every spring.
