BY ELLEN PRESLEY
Special to the Record
Adding a little magic to the garden.
Long, long ago in a time before the internet, people would tell each other stories about the world around them.
Throughout history, plants have been associated with the magic or mythology of a particular culture. Greek and Roman mythology is steeped with stories of the ancient gods turning people into flowers whether to punish them, reward them or protect them from others. The Irish are famous for their oral stories.
One of the most enchanting stories is that of the (Dicentra) bleeding heart: so named because the blossoms that cascade along each stem are heart-shaped. This story was told to me by a lovely Irish Lady named Joy.
You take three of the bleeding hearts that hang from the stem. The first you gently pull down the outer pink petals and it resembles an elegant lady in a gown. We will call her the beautiful princess.
Next, take another heart and pull the petal down a bit further and it looks like a man wearing elegant pants. This is the handsome prince.
The third heart you will take apart. When you pull apart the outer pink petals they become two magical rabbits. Take the next sections apart and you will have two long earrings. The next section two silk slippers. And then you are left with either a wand or sword depending on your version of the story.
There once was a handsome prince who fell in love with a beautiful princess. He tried to win her heart by giving her a gift of two magical rabbits for her garden. She was delighted but not enough to marry him. Then he gave her elegant earrings. She liked the earrings but it didn鈥檛 impress her enough to marry him.
Next he searched the lands and found a pair of beautiful silk slippers. He gave them to the princess and although she did think they were fine, they didn鈥檛 win her heart. Disheartened, the prince goes away. The next thing he finds is a fairy wand or sword depending on your version.
There is a Japanese version that it is a sword and the prince who is so distraught by a broken heart, kills himself with it: stabs himself with the sword in the heart. Then the princess finds out and she realizes that his love was true and she weeps forevermore, hence the bleeding hearts.
There is a European version where it is a sword and he slays a dragon with it and the princess is impressed. She didn鈥檛 want gifts but rather a brave man who could protect her.
In my version, it is a magical fairy wand that the prince gives to the princess. That night she has a dream of the future. In one version she refuses the prince and he kills himself and she is unhappy forevermore. The next dream she accepts the prince鈥檚 offer of marriage and she is happy. When she awakens, she knows the choice is hers. Thus being both a beautiful and wise princess she chooses to marry the prince and they live happily ever after. Now when they see the dangling hearts along the branches of the bleeding heart it represents their love for each other.
It is a lovely enchanting story of romance. By retelling it to others you preserve the magic. Find the magic in your garden and share it with those you love. Happy gardening.
Ellen Presley owns Anderton Nursery in Comox
