amaryllis

Greek legend tells of how the amaryllis flower came to be...the Oracle of Delphi gifted his wisdom to an innocent goddess in pursuit of her true love. She was to arrive at his doorstep for thirty nights dressed in all white and gently extract a tiny drop of blood from her beloved. On the last evening (perhaps the night of winter solstice) she arrived in brilliant red, transformed by her love for him. The wisdom of this bloom symbolizes persistence and patience and of course, the beauty of profound love.

Each year, at the onset of winter, I begin my staggered planting of amaryllis bulbs in an attempt to have them bloom in sequence. How orderly and so very organized, right? I like to have one blooming on my sister's birthday as a celebration of her spirit. Still, year after year they make their way through the dark brown soil in their own time, on Nature's schedule not mine.

Some bulbs are anxious and sprout immediately and others, late bloomers to be sure, only begin to rise up green after many days or even weeks. Waiting patiently for just enough sunshine and water, they remain unhurried. Some contain one enormous blossom; big and bold and impossible to ignore...they trumpet their own arrival. Others hold several blossoms, blooming back to back and petal to petal. Occasionally, certain bulbs seem content with their own greenery; no striped pink or scarlet blooms at all; just a tall emerald stem with a silent bud flanked by leaves.

May this holiday season bring you much joy and contentment. These last few days of december find me encouraged by the quiet quilt of new snow and early darkness that prevails...the time for taking stock of last years events will soon make way for more sunlight...

sending peace