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Gardening and Mythology

© Howard Deutch

We revisited the Allen Botanical Gardens recently when we were in Toronto. Within the Conservatory was a pond and a little island upon which was a statue of Leda and The Swan in an uncompromising pose. It recalled another depiction of the pair on the  proscenium of the preserved Art Deco theater in my nearby big city. I have wondered how many of the visitors to this theater realized what was really occurring  between the bird and the lady. Other illustrations of the pair have been more in keeping with the story. This turn of events led me to other tales of mythology and, as a gardener, to those with horticultural associations

One of the more well known tales is the sowing of dragon's teeth and the reaping of armed warriors. After killing the dragon, Cadmus turned gardener and planted its teeth. The result was more than I have ever gotten from my garden. The closest I have ever come to armed warriors has been the occasional volunteer Burdock. Then again, I tangle with my Grootendorst roses most carefully.

Greek / Roman mythology is rife with references to botanical objects. One is when the goddesses Minerva, Juno and Venus were rivals in a beauty competition. A golden apple inscribed with "For the Fairest" was the prize. Each of the three contestants claimed it. Jupiter, showing his circumspection, sent them to the shepherd Paris for the decision. The foolhardy Paris gave Venus the apple thereby incurring the wrath of the other two goddesses. When faced with a Golden Delicious apple and more than one female claimant, take the Solomon-like example and cut it into equal pieces.

There were more golden apples up there. While cleaning out the Augean stables is a familiar labor of Hercules, getting the golden apples of the Hesperides was the most difficult. These were a wedding gift to Juno and were guarded by a dragon. To get them poor Hercules had to take the burden of the heavens upon his shoulders while Atlas, the father of the Hesperides, went for the apples. Luckily for Hercules, Atlas returned with the apples and resumed his burden. I also have some difficulties with apples. A neighbor's apple tree is adjacent to our property line. The apples are beloved by none but the deer. They attract

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