Spring Flower with Hidden Agenda
I read an interesting article about daffodils this morning. Most consider daffodils as a precursor to spring. That wondrous flower that says, “Hello world! Do not fret! Warmer weather is almost here!” And in and of themselves they are very beautiful flowers. But they are not always thought so highly of. Many cultures view the daffodil as a sign of death. The botanical name for daffodils is Narcissa, which you might remember from studying Greek mythology and stories in school. The ancient Greeks did not give this flower a good name. They considered mournful and a death omen, and mentioned it in many of their myths.
The myth of the daffodil says that they are the living essence of a young man who fell in love with his own reflection and died pining away for it.
Greek myth also states that Persephone was imprisoned by Hades after he captured her while she was picking daffodils.
The bulbs of a daffodil also have a paralyzing narcotic in them.
Roman soldiers reputedly carried them into battle and if they were badly injured, they would consume them so that they might die painlessly.
In addition they have been known to kill off surrounding plants as well.
Put a single cut daffodil in a vase with other flower and in morning you will wake to a bunch of dead flowers with one live daffodil trying not to look suspicious.
This definitely puts a new spin on how I think of daffodils. I’ll still plant them in my garden, because I still think they are beautiful flowers. But my love for them is a bit warped now. They went from being cute little happy flowers to sly mischeivious flowers that have a very melodramatic beauty to them. I’ll just plant them a little aways from the rest of my garden, shall I?
source (warning: nudity within this link)


1 Comment
So if I plant Daffodils, does that make me a narcissist?