How Winter Was Created

How winter was created

Demeter, Goddess of agriculture had a daughter named Persephone, Goddess of spring, who was fathered by Zeus. One day the God of the Underworld, Hades, kidnapped her and carried her off to live with him as his wife in the underworld the Land of the Dead. Distressed by the disappearance of her daughter, Demeter left all the harvest alone and as a result, mass famine struck and the barren grey days winter were upon us. One day Apollo, God of the sun, art and truth, spotted Persephone down in Hades and reported the finding to Zeus. Zeus demanded her return but unfortunately, Persephone had been tricked into eating six pomegranate seeds given to her by Hades in the land of the dead. This trickery bound her to return to the underworld for six months every year. When Persephone returns from the underworld each year, she and her mother Demeter make the earth flourish and bloom beautifully which is the time of year we know as spring and summer. When Persephone returns to the underworld, Demeter stops and Fall & Winter return.

Now that being said, it’s now late November and Demeter and her daughter have left us. However they did leave behind some of their seasonal magic that will linger into winter. Perhaps these winter interest plantings will find a way into your garden one day. I’m sure mom and daughter would be flattered by your choices.

These are just a few of my favorites. There are many more out there.  So stop thinking that a garden starts with early spring tulips and ends with late spring rhododendrons. For crying out loud what would Demeter and her daughter Persephone think of you?  Remember, gardening and what it does for our home as well as our mood is year round.