Mountain-laurel, Bay-laurel or Daphne of Apollo

Pink oleander flowers. (Photos SOOC).

The bay laurel is a plant personified in Greek mythology. {Greek word Daphne, or Daphne of Apollo=Bay laurel.}

Bay Laurel or Sweet Laurel flower buds and leaves. (Touched)

Greek mythology has always been a source of fascination for me. So I thought I'd share the story (myth) of Apollo and Daphne with you today.

Apollo was the god of the sun, light and music in ancient Greek and Roman mythology. He was also associated with youth and beauty.
The curse of Apollo was brought onto him when he insulted the young Eros (Cupid) for playing with bow and arrows. As the myth says, the insulted Eros (Cupid) took two arrows, one of gold and one of lead. With the leaden shaft, to incite hatred, he shot the nymph Daphne and with the golden one, to incite love, he shot Apollo through the heart. Apollo went crazy over Daphne, and she in turn abhorred him.
Apollo continually  followed her. Seeing that Apollo was bound to catch her, she called upon her father, "Help me, Peneus! Open the earth to enclose me, or change my form, which has brought me into this danger!".

Suddenly, her skin turned into bark, her hair became leaves, her arms were transformed into branches, and her feet became rooted to the ground...
Apollo used his powers of youth to render her ever green. Since then, the leaves of the bay laurel plant have never known decay. 

Since summer is coming, I just wanted to say farewell to spring through flower photos. Pale pink mountain-laurel blooms seemed the obvious choice as willing subject. Aren't they beautiful? 

Hope you have a lovely, relaxing weekend! xx
                                              

The Orchids

I really like Orchids. The name comes from the Greek ορχις (orkhis), literally meaning "testicle", because of the shape of the root. {Source: Wikipedia.}

Orchis, was the son of a Nymph and a Satyr in Greek mythology. During a celebratory feast for Dionysus (Bacchus), god of the grape harvest and wine- Orchis drank too much and committed the sacrilege of attempting to rape a priestess, resulting in his being torn apart by the Maenads (Bacchanalians), followers of Dionysus- then the gods metamorphosed him into a flower.

Aah, I've always been quite fascinated by Greek mythology! xx

Flower Personification

Poppy Anemone.         

The perception of Mother Nature and its elements reflects the Universe in its unity in Greek mythology, and sensed through flowers and plants was the expression of "deity". For this reason religion and mythology relate plants and flowers to the gods.

Windflower, (Anemone nemorosa), (Greek word anemos=wind), is a flower personified in Greek mythology. The flower took its name from the wind because it's the wind that helps both in its blooming and whithering.

According to mythology was created from the mixture of wounded Adonis' blood and the nectar that Aphrodite poured into his wound.

The myth says that Aphrodite fell in love with a very handsome mortal, Adonis. God Mars who was Aphrodite's former lover, got jealous and one day that Adonis went hunting, he was transformed into a boar, attacked Adonis and hurt him.

Aphrodite poured nectar into Adonis' wound and anemone was created.

                     

Daffodil, (Narcissus is its botanic name), is also a flower personified in mythology as well.                       

Its name comes from Narcissus' myth. 

Narcissus was a very handsome young man. According to the myth he died either looking at his reflection in   the waters of a lake or jumping into the lake to catch his reflection, thinking that it was the nymph who was living there. A flower grew at the point he died and it was given his name.
It expresses egoism.

Interesting! Isn't it? I've always been fascinated by Greek mythology, ancient gods, goddesses and heroes. xx