When it gets this cold and rainy in the winter, it helps to bring your gardening inside where it is warm. If you have a sunny window, you can grow fragrant narcissus (paper whites) and stunning amaryllis indoors. They will brighten your house and well as your mood during the coming weeks. They also make wonderful Valentine gifts!
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| amaryllis picture from www.whiteflowerfarm.com |
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| narcissus picture from containergardening.about.com |
So hurry to Walmart where their narcissus and amaryllis bulb kits are on sale for $2.50 - $3.50. I started some narcissus in my kitchen window yesterday.
I am privileged to be working with the Ruston Junior High Garden Club, a great group of seventh and eighth grade garden enthusiasts. We started amaryllis bulbs Monday.
For the fun of it, here is the Greek myth about Narcissus:
A young girl named Echo fell in love with a vain youth named Narcissus. One day when Narcissus was out hunting, Echo followed the handsome youth through the woods, longing to address him but unable to speak first. When Narcissus finally heard her footsteps he shouted "Who goes there?" Echo answered "...goes there? ...goes there?" And so it went, until finally Echo showed herself and rushed to embrace Narcissus. He pulled away and vainly told her to leave him alone. Narcissus left Echo heartbroken and she spent the rest of her life lonely and pining away for the love she never knew until only her voice remained.
Eventually Narcissus became thirsty and went to drink from a stream. As he saw his reflection, he fell in love with it, not knowing that it was him. As he bent down to kiss it, it seemed to "run away" and he was heartbroken. He grew thirstier, but wouldn't touch the water for fear of damaging his reflection. He eventually died of thirst, staring at his own reflection.
Eventually Narcissus became thirsty and went to drink from a stream. As he saw his reflection, he fell in love with it, not knowing that it was him. As he bent down to kiss it, it seemed to "run away" and he was heartbroken. He grew thirstier, but wouldn't touch the water for fear of damaging his reflection. He eventually died of thirst, staring at his own reflection.
The narcissus flower is closely identified with the boy and was said to spring from the ground around the pool where Narcissus died. In the Roman version it is suggested that Narcissus is transformed into the flower. This myth also gives birth to the idea of narcissistic behavior.
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| Narciso by Caravaggio hangs in the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Rome |
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Metamorphosis of Narcissus by Salvador Dali hangs in the Tate Modern in London
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Love ya'll,
Shelli
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