Oom Boet en sy wit amarillislelies

Oom Boet Boonzaaier (Eenheid 26) is nie min trots op die wit amarillislelies wat hy in sy boomryke tuin kweek nie. In Afrikaans staan hulle ook soms bekend as narsinglelies.

Hy gee toe dat sy wit amarillisse nie juis 'n rare blom is nie, maar vir hom is hulle pragtig en die vrug op sy arbeid.

Oom Boet en sy wit amarillislelies

Die naam van hierdie pragtige blomme met hulle soet-soet geur, het 'n interessante herkoms. 'n Internetsoektog het die volgende beskrywing opgelewer.

"Legend has it that the amaryllis began as a shy, timid nymph. Amaryllis fell deeply in love with Alteo, a shepherd with Hercules' [see illustration below] strength and Apollo's [see illustration below] beauty, but her affections were unrequited.  Hoping that she could win him over by bestowing upon him the thing he desired most - a flower so unique it had never existed in the world before - Amaryllis sought advice from the oracle of Delphi.

Following his instructions, Amaryllis dressed in maiden's white and appeared at Alteo's door for 30 nights, each time piercing her heart with a golden arrow.  When at last Alteo opened his door, there before him was a striking crimson flower, sprung from the blood of Amaryllis's heart.  With this romantic - albeit tragic - tale as its beginning, it's not surprising that today the amaryllis has come to symbolize pride, determination and radiant beauty."


In classical mythology, Apollo was the god of music (principally the lyre, and he directed the choir of the Muses) and also of prophecy, colonization, medicine, archery (but not for war or hunting), poetry, dance, intellectual inquiry and the carer of herds and flocks

Hercules was famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures