We bought this “Christmas Amaryllis” as a bulb about 30 days before December 25, which has been our annual practice for quite some time. However, contrary to the advertising, it didn’t bloom until last week. Maybe it will last long enough to be our “Valentine’s Amaryllis,” which would be fitting, given the legends surrounding these plants.
This tropical flower is named after the mythical Greek nymph Amaryllis, who was the subject of a number of slightly differing legends. All of these tales feature her love for the handsome Alteo, a shepherd who loved flowers, but paid no attention to her beauty.
In one of the typical legends, Amaryllis pierced her heart with a golden arrow and spilled drops of her blood for 30 days while she pledged her love to Alteo. He paid no attention until the 30th day, when each drop suddenly burst into a beautiful red flower. That did the job, and they lived happily ever after.
In actuality, the amaryllis plant originated in South Africa and its bulb cultivation and marketing began in the early 1700s. Victorians viewed the amaryllis not only as a representation of love, but also as a symbol of strength based on its sturdy stem.:
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on February 5, 2022.)