Calla lilies are said to come from the ancient god Hera, the wife of Zeus. In the story, Zeus brought Hercules to nurse from his wife while she was sleeping. He wanted his son to have the strength of the gods. Hera awoke and pushed the baby away from her. Drops of milk flew across the sky creating the milky way and everywhere they landed on earth, calla lilies bloomed.
Almond blossoms are extraordinarily beautiful, giving a white and pink glow to the cold winter and a promise of the warm spring ahead. The blossoms come from the deciduous tree in the rose family botanically known as Prunus dulcis. Almond blossoms have long been admired for their beauty and were an inspiration for Vincent Van Gogh’s still lifes and Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures.
