Lenten rose

Sunday
I had a busy morning at church this morning as I was playing hand bells as well as singing in the choir. I usually play with the Joyful Noise Bell Choir, or the "B team"! This morning, however, I was substituting for someone in the Chancel Bells (the "A" team!). The Chancel Bells have more members and thus can play more octaves, and also more challenging music. I was glad of the opportunity, as I find the Joyful Noise Choir music rather elementary, since I also play piano and clarinet, so am used to reading music. The choir was singing in the first and second services, and the Bells were playing in the first and third services, so it was a full morning. We had to be at church for 7.30, as first we had to take the tables and bells up to the sanctuary - the music rooms are in the basement. Usually we will do this at the previous practice, but we weren't able to do that this week as there was a memorial service in the sanctuary yesterday. I'd only had the one practice, and I didnt play flawlessly this morning, but I did pretty good, and I enjoyed the challenge. After the services, we went out for brunch at First Watch - it had been quite a while since we'd been. Back at home, Roger did a little more work in the yard - he'd done quite a bit yesterday - then late afternoon we went out to walk at Rowe Woods. Things are really greening up - there were a few daffodils out, but most of them are still in tight bud, but the Lenten Roses were providing a lovely display. Helleborus Orientalis is the botanical name of this popular, early blooming shade perennial. Despite their name and appearance, they are not members of the rose family - they actually belong to the Butter Cup family. Several legends surround the hellebore. In witchcraft it is believed to have ties to summoning demons. Helleborus niger is commonly called the Christmas rose, due to an old legend that it sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the Christ child in Bethlehem. In Greek mythology, Melampus of Pylos used hellebore to save the daughters of the king of Argos from a madness, induced by Dionysus, that caused them to run naked through the city, crying, weeping, and screaming. During the Siege of Kirrha in 585 BC, hellebore was reportedly used by the Greek besiegers to poison the city's water supply. The defenders were subsequently so weakened by diarrhea that they were unable to defend the city from assault.

One year ago: Turtle