And then the hyacinths appear. The hyacinth flower name has an interesting story. In Greek mythology, Apollo the sun god and Zephyr the god of the west wind compete for a young boy's affections. At one point Apollo is teaching Hyakinthos how to throw the discus and Zephyr gets so angry that he blows a gust of wind in Apollo's direction, which sends the discus hurling back in the direction of Hyakinthos, striking and killing him. Apollo, brokenhearted, notices that a flower springs up from the blood that was spilled and names the flower hyacinth in honor of the boy. These flowers have been blooming in the gnome garden for over thirty years.
If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft
And from thy slender store
Two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole,
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.
– Saadi, Persian poet
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