Flowery legends

As the days are long and the sun gives away the energy we need so much, let the flowers guide us through the rich landscape of myths and legends. Every plant carries millennia of human imagination and belief, whispering tales of gods and monsters, love and tragedy. Flowers have also their symbols. Like daisies which represent modesty, grace and beauty.  

Below are some flowery stories and legends with the photos from my garden. I'd like to share them with you this summer not to forget the fragile moments of blooming, the fragrance and the mystery of nature.

Forget-me-not

In Austrian folklore there is a story about a young man walking with his girlfriend beside the Danube, when she noticed a handful of blue flowers growing on a little islet in the middle of the river. 

He leaped into the river and despite the dangerous currents, he reached the island and gathered the blossoms. On his return trip, he got a serious cramp and realized he could no longer fight the force of the rapids.

With his last strength, he flung the bouquet to the bank at her feet and cried, "Forget me not!" before disappearing beneath the surface forever.

The peony

This Chinese legend tells the story of a scholar who was so devoted to his garden of peonies that one of them manifested into the physical shape of a beautiful woman.

She was his intellectual equal and became his perfect companion - a brilliant poet and artist - but their supernatural bond remained a secret.

When a famous, strict religious leader scheduled a visit, the woman knew their happiness was over. The priest would never tolerate a man living with a plant spirit and fearing his condemnation, she pressed herself against a wall and melted into the surface as a painting.

Her lips moved one last time to explain that she could no longer maintain a human body under the priest’s scrutiny before she faded away into the flowers forever. And presumably the scholar was left broken-hearted…

The violet

In a legend from Indigenous American folklore, a great hero fell in love with a maiden from a rival village and watched her for many nights before they finally fled together.

The maiden braided her hair around the warrior's neck as a symbol of their marriage, but they were eventually overtaken and killed by their enemies.

When spring arrived, the first violets grew from the ground where the lovers had fallen. It was said that the delicate lines on the petals represented the braided hair of the maiden and symbolized the couple’s eternal devotion.

Lilies

Lilies, with their petals, stand as sentinels between our world and the realm of spirits. These elegant blooms have a rich mythological history that spans cultures:

- In Greek mythology, lilies were associated with Hera, the queen of the gods. Legend says that lilies sprang from drops of her milk as she nursed Heracles.

- Ancient Egyptian mythology linked lilies to Osiris, god of the dead, rebirth, and transition. The flower was seen as a symbol of resurrection, its petals opening like the gates to the underworld.

- Celtic folklore saw the lily as a flower of the faerie realm, capable of opening locks and breaking evil enchantments.

Poppies

źródło: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy 

Blood-red poppies nod their heads in fields and gardens, luring the unwary into eternal slumber. Few flowers have as rich folklore as the poppy, its crimson petals inspiring tales across cultures.

In Greek mythology, poppies were associated with Hypnos, the god of sleep, and his twin brother Thanatos, the god of death. The poppy's sedative effects likely influenced this connection, leading to tales of entire armies being led astray by fields of these entrancing flowers.

However, Roman legend tells that poppies grew on the graves of fallen soldiers, blooming from their shed blood. On dark autumn nights, it's said the ghosts of these warriors can be seen walking among the swaying poppies.

Thistles

Thistles have been significant symbols from pagan to early Christian times. In early Christian beliefs, the Virgin Mary is associated with thistles. The travelling mother of Jesus was overcome with thirst when she came across a cow. Plucking the broad leaf of a thistle and folding it to use as a cup enabled her to quench her thirst on the cow’s milk. Thereafter, the Virgin Mary declared that flower as her own.

It's also a national plan of Scotland. Why?

According to the legend this little purple flower saved Scottish soldiers. It was 1263 when King Haakon’s fleet of battle hardened Norsemen was blown off course and landed on the shores of Largs in Ayrshire. To their delight there was a sleeping Scottish army nearby, not suspecting an attack.

The Norsemen removed their boots in preparation for sneaking up on the slumbering soldiers. Fortunately, a field of thorny thistle flowers surrounded the Scottish. One Norse soldier, stepping on a thorn, yelled out in pain. This scream woke the Scottish men, who jumped into action and slaughtered the invading Norsemen. No wonder today the thistle is part of Scotland’s coat of arms!

P.S. That's all for now. There is no time to waste. The meadow full of summer flowers is waiting.