Meet the Fragrant Hyacinth
To begin with, it would be great to get to you with the flower itself. Hyacinth is a perennial bulbous plant, up to 8 in tall. The flowering stem is erect, stable, succulent, without leaves on it. The fragrant flowers are bell-shaped, simple or showy, gathered in a looser or denser, clustered inflorescence. The leaves are linear or grooved, protruding directly from the bulb. It begins to bloom outdoors from late April to late May. Flowering lasts 20 days, and as a cut flower, the cooler lasts from one week to 10 days. Several hundred varieties have been selected, which are grouped by color in six groups: blue, lilac, pink, red, white, yellow and orange.
Hyacinth is propagated vegetatively by bulbs. Seed propagation is used only for breeding purposes. In the garden bulbs are planted from late September to late October, at a soil temperature of about 10 degrees, at a depth of 5 to 7 inches, depending on the size of the bulb. The distance between the bulbs is 4-7 inches. If the soil is dry, after planting it must be watered.
The soil should be well cultivated, free of weeds, sandy-clay and rich in nutrients. Acid and heavy clay soils are not suitable. Burnt manure and poultry manure works well. For earlier flowering, open, sunny places without constant winds are suitable.
After they bloom and the leaves turn yellow, the bulbs are removed. This usually happens in June. The removed bulbs are dried for 2-3 hours outdoors. They are examined for injuries or illnesses, and if any, are removed. Heavy and dried bulbs are placed in dry and ventilated rooms at a temperature of 80°F for 4-6 weeks. Until planting, they must be provided with an optimal temperature of around 65°F degrees.
‘Flower of Love’ - Tale Origins
Hyacinth is the flower of love, happiness, fidelity and sorrow. The name of the flower "hyacinth" in Greek means "rain flower", but at the same time the Greeks called it the flower of sadness, as well as the flower of the memory of Hyacinth. An ancient Greek legend is associated with the name of this plant. In ancient Sparta, Hyacinth was one of the most important gods for some time, but gradually his fame faded and his place in mythology was taken by the god of beauty and the sun Phoebus or Apollo. The legend of Hyacinth and Apollo for millennia remains one of the most famous stories about the origin of the flower.
The charming young man Hyacinth - the son of the Spartan king Amiculus and the muse of history Cleo, was a favorite of Apollo. The god of beauty taught the young man and introduced him to the secrets of arts and sports. Once they had fun throwing a discus. Apollo watched with admiration with what dexterity and precision he threw the disc of Hyacinth and rejoiced in the success of his pet. But Zephyr, the winged deity of the east wind, was jealous of Apollo's love for the young man. With his powerful breath he deflected the disk thrown by Apollo, and he fatally struck Hyacinth in the head. Apollo was overwhelmed with inconsolable grief, and to perpetuate the memory of his young friend, he turned the blood flowing from the wound and dyeing the earth into a lovely purple-purple flower, whose wonderful fragrance spread far and wide, with a cup in the shape of a lily. on one side the letter "A" (the initials of Apollo), and on the other - "Y" the letter of (Hyacinth).
Hyacinth Legends Worldwide
In the Netherlands, the hyacinth appeared accidentally in a shipwreck on which there were boxes of bulbs, broken and thrown ashore by the storm. They later sprouted, blossomed and became a sensation. This was in 1734, when the tulip breeding fever began to cool and a new flower was needed. Thus, it became a source of large income, especially when they accidentally managed to cultivate a double hyacinth.
Many people became interested in hyacinths in Germany as well. The descendant of the Huguenots, gardener David Boucher, who had a wonderful collection of primroses, also began growing hyacinths. In the second half of the 18th century, he organized the first exhibition of these flowers in Berlin. Hyacinths so captivated the imagination of Berliners that many of them began to diligently cultivate them. This has become a modern occupation. Moreover, Bush was visited many times by King Friedrich Wilhelm III. The demand for hyacinths was so great that they were grown in huge quantities.
In France, where the flower was also widespread, hyacinths in the 18th century were even used to poison those people they were trying to get rid of. Usually the bouquet intended for this purpose was sprayed with something very toxic and the flowers intended for poisoning were placed in the boudoir or the victim's bedroom.
So, after you have heard more about the magnificent hyacinth, would you consider putting it into your home or even your office? Don’t forget that you can buy hyacinth online easily whenever you are. As it was mentioned just above, this plant is a symbol of love in many cultures around the globe. Not only that, but with TodayFlowerDelivery, you can get a bouquet of hyacinth in New York, Louisiana or Texas, for example, and surprise a loved one with it!
