What is a windflower of a bloody hue?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
February 15, 2002
Also Sponsored By: Breck's Bulbs—>Click here.
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading—>Click here.
Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.
Grecian Windflowers, Anemone—>Click here.
The Greek legends say that Anemos the wind announces the advent of spring. His heralds, the Anemones [a nee moe' nees] open during the rough and blustery days. The life of the windflower is short; the wind is said to open the flower, then take the petals away.
Aphrodite loved the mortal Adonis. Some of the stories say it was in guilt over the death of Adonis' mother, others claim her son Cupid scratched her with an arrow while she watched Adonis hunt. Aphrodite took leave of Olympus and abandoned her temples. She followed Adonis through the woods and fields.
Aphrodite was ever fearful her beloved Adonis might be hurt. Early one spring, Aphrodite warned Adonis not to hunt dangerous animals; his good looks would not touch the hearts of lions or boars. But Adonis felt it was unmanly to hunt harmless animals and waited until Aphrodite was gone.
Adonis and his dogs roused a wild boar. As the dogs harried the boar, Adonis threw his spear. The spear wound only angered the boar. It charged Adonis and sank its tusks into his side.
When Aphrodite found Adonis, she held his body and cried. Her tears dripped into the pool of his blood. As the blood and tears soaked into the earth, the anemones of that place were changed. Every year, Aphrodite's lamentation is remembered in the windflowers of a bloody hue. Linnaeus kept the legend alive and those changed windflowers he called Adonis.
The Botanic Garden of Smith College has posted a beautiful photograph of a windflower of a bloody hue. To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://www.smith.edu/garden/Gallery/gallery18.html
Col legi Anunciata, Cerdanyola del Valles, has posted a photograph of Adonis annua, by legend the windflower that changed with Adonis' blood and Aphrodite's tears. To view the photograph, click on the link:
Click here to view the photograph
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What is love-lies-bleeding? What's in a Name? - February 4, 2005
The Bottle The Potting Bench - January 28, 2002
What flower was named for an athlete? What's in a Name? - April 26, 2002
Who was Tantalus? What's in a Name? - July 30, 2004
What common weed is called a poorman's weatherglass? What's in a Name? - October 26, 2001
Why must the tumbleweed tumble? Weird Plants - June 27, 2002
Killer Savings Links:
Breck's Bulbs -$25 off—>Click here.
Gurney's Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Henry Fields Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.
Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
Unique Professionally Designed Gardens
Springhill Nursery®
Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you.
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
|
|
Grecian Windflowers
Breck's Bulbs®
Fanciful daisy-shaped flowers up to 2" across bloom before many crocuses and continue their delightful colour show for weeks.
This coordinated mix features blue, white, pink and charming bicolours above a backdrop of lovely fernlike foliage.
Ideal for naturalizing. Increase annually. Anemone blanda Zones 4-9. 5+ cm bulbs.
|
|
This Item Ships In The Fall
Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs
[More Anemone...]
|
|
|
Poppy Anemone Sylphyde
Breck's Bulbs®
This eye-catcher is probably better known as a charming cut flower than as a bulb, but it definitely deserves a place in the garden! Produces striking magenta-pink, cup-shaped flowers that resemble poppies.
Flowers for 2 to 3 weeks and attracts butterflies. The ferny green foliage is attractive all season long. Thrives in any dry, warm spot. Grows well in Southern climates.
|
|
Anemone coronaria DeCaen Zones 6-10. 6-7 cm bulbs. Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer. Height 10-14"
Buy 8 Bulbs for $7.99, Get 8 Bulbs Free!
This Item Ships In The Spring
Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs
[More Anemone...]
|
|
|
Snowdrop Anemone Elise Feldman
Breck's Bulbs®
Pomponlike flowers above lush green foliage make this the ideal plant for your spring border. With careful, regular watering throughout the summer this plant will rebloom well into late fall.
Positively stunning, carefree perennial has delicate arching stems which carry pristine, ivory-white flowers. Striking when combined with Grape Hyacinths or English Bluebells.
|
|
Anemone sylvestris # 1 plants. Zones 4-8. Deer-resistant. Height: 10 - 15". Bloom Time: Mid Spring, Late Summer
This Item Ships In The Spring
Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs
[More Anemone...]
|
|
|
Poppy Anemone Hollandia
Breck's®
These 2" red flowers with contrasting white centres are one of the most beautiful poppy anemones -- so beautiful, in fact, that Hollandia won an Award of Merit for its special colouring.
It is a free-flowering variety with bold colour year after year. Great for brightening sunny front borders or cut-flower bouquets. It can withstand some frost, but a layer of mulch is recommended in colder regions.
Anemone coronaria Zones 6-9. 7-8 cm bulbs.
|
|
This Item Ships In The Fall
Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs
[More Anemone...]
|
|
|
Double Poppy Anemone Mix
Breck's®
Crisp white, glowing red, cool blue--each bulb produces 3-5 double, poppy-like flowers with lacy foliage.
Hardy to 10º F. 7-8 cm. bulbs.
Anemone 'St. Brigid'
Zones: 6-9. Deer Resistant
|
|
This Item Ships In The Fall
Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs
[More Anemone...]
|
| |
killerplants Recommended Seed and Nursery Stores
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 BACK TO TOP
|
|
