The hyacinths are up! Their return marks Beltane in my region every year, so here is my annual appreciation post: The story goes that Hyacinth was a Spartan prince, and a lover of Apollo. He died tragically when struck by a discus, and the gods made a flower bloom where his blood fell on the soil. Hyacinthus had a large cult at Amyclae, which he shared with Apollo. Though, some scholars have noted that his name is pre-hellenic, and he may be an earlier cthonic god of the early spring vegetation that dies out before summer. It makes sense, then, that in his myth he is struck down while still in his beautiful youth. Io Hyacinthus, your blooms are sweet and fleeting! #Beltane #Hedgewitch