Hyacinth - Heavenly Hyacinth

In Greek Mythology Hyacinthus was a youth caught in a love triangle between Apollo (God of beauty and Art) and Zephyrus (The West Wind). When Hyacinthus gave his entire affection to Apollo, Zephyrus became insanely jealous and killed the youth. But the other Gods sided with Apollo and placed a spell over the slain boy so that love would prevail. From the bloody ground sprang the hyacinth which to this day freely gives the world fragrance and beauty in honour of his beloved Apollo.

The Hyacinths are members of the lily family mostly native to the Mediterranean region. Several related genus make up the group of bulbs commonly known as Hyacinths. These include the Dutch, Roman, Spanish, English, and Grape Hyacinth varieties. Hyacinthus orientalis, the Roman Hyacinth, looks very much like a spindly version of the much larger Dutch or Garden Hyacinth. From this variable wild species have come most of the large, fragrant Dutch hybrids commonly grown today.