Plants and Mythology
                                
     Common Plantain was know at one time as "white manÆs footsteps" because it seemed to
sprout up where ever the English colonists did.
     Dandelion is so called because it is a corruption of the French folk name for it , which means
"tooth of a lion"
     Daffodils are a tale of life, death , love and betrayal. When Pluto carried off Proserpine to
the underworld, she had been picking lilies. These white flowers turned into yellow flowers- as a
reminder that come spring, she must return to the land of the living. Each bulb is one of her tears.
     Hyacynths are reminders of devastation and betrayal. Hyacinthus, ProserpineÆs Greek
companion was a youth beloved by Apollo. Apollo would descend to earth every day to engage in
a discus competition with him. Zephyrus, god of the wind, grew jealous of the friendship and blew
a gust of wind so strong that ApolloÆs discus hit and killed Hyacinthus. Apollo made this beautiful
flower as a memorial of his friend.
     Peonies are named after Paeon, physician to the Greek Gods. Songs of thanksgiving and
triumph also share this name, and so each red peony is a living embodiment of this sentiment.
Chinese lore has it that during the Tang Dynasty the Empress Wu ordered all of her garden flowers
to bloom in mid winter. All complied, out of fear, except the Peony To this day, Peonies cannot be
forced to bloom.
     Iris is named after the Goddess Iris. She was a messenger to the Greek gods. She appears to
mortals as a rainbow, leaving us a message that we have long since lost the ability to translate. The
blooms of her flower are just as colorful- and short lived.
     Ivy is the favorite plant of Bachhus, the god of wine and merriment. Ivy will tolerate being
stepped on- important feature for events involving a lot of drunken, joyful revels !Druids have said
that it keeps away evil- another important thing to consider for a really good party !
     Roses- one legend involves Chloris ( who gave part of her name the Clitoris) . She was
frolicking in the forest one day discovered a beautiful dead nymph. She was so upset that a beauty
such as this should be wasted, and so she persuaded the other gods to help bring the beauty back to
life. The gods, constantly trying to outdo each other, made the nymph even more beautiful. They
gave her and ethereal fragrance, irresistible charm and cheering joy. She came back to life as a rose.
     Red Roses symbolize not only love but lechery. Jupiter spied on Venus one day while she
was bathing. The white rose blooming next to Venus æ pond turned red, reflecting her blush.
     Yarrow is associated with Achilles. During the Battle of Troy, Achilles helped treat many
an injured Trojan with this plant. The Chinese have used Yarrow sticks to throw the I Ching, and
the Druids used them to foretell the weather. 
     St. JohnÆs Wort is called such ( wort means common plant)because it blooms near the feast
day of St John the Baptist. The plant contains a red, volatile healing oil- and it is said that the red is
a symbol for the blood shed when the saint is beheaded.