There are beliefs and legends in the autumn gladiolus flower garden. The Legend of Gladiolus Plants

prepared by Ekaterina Ziborova

The botanical name of gladiolus is swordweed; its stem is indeed similar to a sword blade, and the scarlet inflorescences of some varieties resemble droplets of blood. The very name “gladiolus” is a Latin word (Gladius). An ancient Roman legend states: if you hang gladiolus bulbs on your chest as an amulet, they will not only help you win a fight, but will also protect you from death.

Among the Romans, gladiolus was considered the flower of gladiators. According to legend, a cruel Roman commander captured Thracian warriors and ordered them to be turned into gladiators, and the commander ordered the most beautiful, brave, dexterous and loyal friends Sevtus and Teres to be the first to fight each other, promising that the winner would receive the hand of his daughter and be released to freedom. Many curious townspeople came to see this spectacle. However, they did not see what they wanted: when the trumpets sounded, calling the brave warriors to battle, Sevt and Teres stuck their swords into the ground and rushed to each other with open arms.
The crowd roared indignantly. The trumpets sounded again, demanding a duel, and when the warriors again did not satisfy the expectations of the bloodthirsty Romans, they were put to death.
But as soon as the bodies of the defeated touched the ground, blooming gladioli grew from the hilts of their swords, which to this day are considered a symbol of friendship, loyalty, memory and nobility.

In the time of Theophrastus, the author of numerous works on plants, gladioli bulbs were baked in dough and eaten. Onions were added to the crushed corms and cakes were baked. And Pliny the Elder reported that in his time the roots of gladioli were used in medicine.

In Europe, medieval landsknechts, as in Ancient Rome, wore gladioli corms on their chests as amulets, as there was a belief that they had mysterious powers that made a person invincible and protected from injury. It was believed that the magical power of corms lies in the mesh “armor” - the nervation of dead covering leaves.

In the XVII - XVIII centuries. recognition of the gladiolus as a miraculous talisman is replaced by recognition of it as a carrier of healing properties. Thus, some types of gladiolus were used as a milk extract for women, others - for toothache.

Many poetic legends and tales have been written about this beloved plant. "Prince Gladius", slender, in his ceremonial clothes, with an august bearing, has long captivated the flower growers of Russia.
Currently, gladiolus is one of the five most common cut flower crops in the world.

All about gladiolus on the website website

This majestic and graceful flower has long settled in our hearts and gardens. Many interesting events are associated with this flower. It combines the charm of antiquity, modernity and sophistication. The majestic arrows with the bells of the inflorescences make it one of the most recognizable flowers in the world.

It has come a long way from a wild flower to a garden flower. It was first described by the Greek physician Dioscorides as a wild lily. Europeans have long considered gladiolus to be a wild flower of the Mediterranean. In 1689, the writer John Parkinson called the Turkish Gladiolus byzantinus a garden weed, and although gladiolus could still be found in European gardens, it would soon be replaced by new exotic flowers.

In the mid-18th century, fashion changed again and everyone started growing gladioli. Since then, fortune has not changed for gladiolus. Beautiful, lush varieties of gladiolus filled the gardens of Victorian England. Gladioli have attracted the attention of celebrity gardeners such as Claude Monet and Gertrude Gecko.

The beauty of the gladiolus is breathtaking, and the diversity obtained by crossing just a few European, Asian and African species is amazing. More than 180 species and over 10 thousand cultivated varieties of gladiolus can decorate any garden.

Gladiolus belongs to the iris family. Stems with socketed inflorescences make it recognizable and unique. The edges of the flower can be wavy or smooth. The stem can grow from 50 cm to 2 meters in length. The diameter of the flowers, arranged in two rows along the trunk, is from 2.5 to 20 cm. The flowers open first at the base of the trunk, then the lower ones fade and the upper ones bloom. More than 20 flowers can bloom on the stem of a healthy gladiolus.

Pliny the Elder, an ancient Roman military leader and scientist, was the first to call it gladiolus - the flower of gladiators. Gladiolus comes from the Latin 'gladius' - small sword. The sharp leaves of the plant resemble the swords of Roman legionnaires who conquered Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Gladioli were brought to England in 1620 by John Tradescant, a plant hunter who later became the chief gardener at the court of Charles I. From his trip to the Mediterranean, Tradescant brought many plants, including gladiolus.

In the 18th century, gladioli were supplied from South Africa, which is how different types of gladioli came to Europe. At the same time, European gardeners began to breed flower hybrids. One of these hybrids attracted the attention of Queen Victoria in 1853. She asked that the flower be sent to her gardener at the Osborne estate on the Isle of Wight. Already in 1870, the catalogs of James Kelway's nursery in Somerset listed 800 cultivars of gladioli. Kelvey planted almost 3.5 hectares of gladioli.

By the beginning of the 20th century, experts realized that the potential for crossing known species was practically exhausted. And then an event occurred that changed the fate of gladiolus. Quite by accident, a new species of gladiolus was found deep in the African jungle. During the construction of a bridge in Rhodesia, engineer Sir F. Fox found a small flower of Gladiolus primulinus in dense thickets near Victoria Falls. Experts immediately saw the brilliant possibilities offered by this graceful yellow-orange flower. Such shades were not then in the color line of gladioli. New varieties of gladiolus were created at breakneck speed.

In North America, gardeners continue to cultivate gladiolus in the hope of producing larger, more beautiful flowers. In Canada this tradition is especially strong. The Canadian Gladioli Club is the oldest in the world. Canada produced several famous species of gladiolus, including the first miniature wavy-edged gladiolus.

These small varieties were born by accident in 1930. An 18 year old boy from Toronto bought a package of mixed varieties of gladiolus. The beauty born from a cheap packet of seeds marked the beginning of a family business that has lasted more than 80 years.

To grow an exotic plant in your greenhouse, you need to find the secrets of its contents. Gardeners respect beautiful flowers. The subtleties of keeping most plant species are the same. Any living creature requires individual fulfillment of conditions. In this collection, the authors tried to present many conditions in order to prevent death during the cultivation of a rare flower. It would be correct to determine for yourself which group your plant belongs to.

Gladiolus - small sword

Legends about gladiolus "Oh, ancient Rome! Tell us the legend about Gladiolus, the flower of all Gladiators..."

Gladiolus is a sword flower, also the king of victory, a magnificent duelist. Among the Romans, it was considered the flower of gladiators. The name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius - "sword". Translated from Latin, gladiolus also means “small sword.” In Ancient Greece, gladiolus was called xythion, which also meant “sword”. This name is due to the fact that this plant has straight sword-shaped leaves reaching a length of 80 cm... (see "Garden Gladiolus")

Traditionally, gladiolus is a masculine flower, reminiscent of chivalry, the true “King of Victory”; It is believed that this was the first German name for gladiolus. These flowers are rarely given to women, especially young girls; they look good in bouquets intended for business partners, winners and award winners. But still, many women adore these flowers and gladly accept them as a gift (see “The Language of Flowers”).

As the legend says, gladioli grew from the swords of Thracian warriors captured by the Romans... There was a war between the Romans and the Thracians and the Romans won. A cruel Roman commander captured Thracian warriors and ordered them to be turned into gladiators. Longing for their homeland, pain over lost freedom, humiliation from the position of slaves, bound two young captives Sevt and Teres with strong friendship. Wanting to entertain the public, the cruel commander forced his loyal friends to fight against each other, promising the winner a reward - a return to their homeland. For the sake of freedom they had to give their lives.

Many curious citizens came to the military spectacle. When the trumpets sounded, calling the brave to battle, refusing to fight for the amusement of the Romans, Sevt and Teres stuck their swords into the ground and rushed to each other with open arms, ready to accept death. The crowd roared indignantly. The trumpets sounded again, demanding a duel, but the warriors did not satisfy the expectations of the bloodthirsty Romans. They were put to death. As soon as the bodies of the defeated touched the ground, their swords took root and blossomed, turning into tall, beautiful flowers. In honor of the noble gladiators they were called gladioli. And to this day they are a symbol of friendship, loyalty, nobility and memory.

And in South Africa they tell a different story about the origin of gladioli. In former times, wars were commonplace, and one day enemies descended on a small village, hoping to take their opponents by surprise. They captured many, but the elder managed to escape, having previously hidden the main values of the community from the invaders. The elder's beautiful daughter was tortured for a long time to find out where her father was hiding, but she did not say a word to her enemies. Then they decided to execute her in front of all her fellow countrymen, but at that moment, when the sword was supposed to touch the girl’s neck, the gods turned it into a beautiful flower with purple-red buds. Seeing this miracle, the invaders realized that the gods were condemning them, and hastily left this village, saving the life of the brave girl.

There is another beautiful legend about the strong love of a prince and a beautiful girl. Once upon a time there lived a prince on earth and his name was Iolus. In his kingdom, the people lived in contentment and joy, because Iolus was a kind and fair ruler. Only the young prince was often sad that he could not find his beloved in his kingdom, although he traveled from end to end. And then Iolus went to the Magician to find out where his love lived. He told him that in the neighboring kingdom, in the dungeon of an evil wizard, a beautiful girl named Glad was languishing, whom he was going to marry. And she would rather die than marry an old, evil wizard.

That same day, Iolus went in search of his beloved. He came to the castle of the Evil Wizard with a request to teach him magic and was accepted. But for this, the prince had to serve the Evil Wizard and restore order in his castle. One day, when the Evil Wizard was not in the castle, Iolus opened the door of the treasured room and saw in it a girl of unprecedented beauty. They looked at each other and immediately fell in love. Hand in hand, they ran away from the castle. Glad and Iolus were already far away when the Evil Wizard overtook them. And he turned them into a flower, which he placed in his garden. The long stem of the flower resembles a slender Iolus, and the beautiful delicate buds resemble Glad. Later, people named the flower “Gladiolus”, in honor of the strong love of two hearts that died but did not want to part.

The history of gladiolus dates back to ancient times; references to it are found in the works of ancient Roman thinkers. Shamans and healers prescribed magical properties to this flower. An ancient Roman legend says that if you hang the roots of a gladiolus on your chest like amulets, they will not only protect you from death, but will also help you win a fight. In medieval Europe, landsknechts wore gladioli corms as amulets, as they believed that they made them invincible and protected them from injury. It was believed that the magical power of corms lies in the mesh “armor” - the rib of dead covering leaves.

Before its cultivation, gladiolus was not an ornamental plant. During Theophrastus's time, around 300 BC, it was considered a troublesome weed of grain crops, but its ground bulbs could be baked into flat cakes with the addition of flour. In the 17th and 18th centuries, healers attributed medicinal properties to gladioli. Corms were recommended to be added to milk for infants and used against toothache. Currently, a large amount of vitamin C has been found in gladioli. Petals of black and red gladioli are part of some medicinal preparations that increase human immunity.

Gladiolus first gained popularity only in the 18th century, when South African species of these flowers, which were distinguished by greater brightness and beauty, were brought to Europe. And when in 1902 an English engineer brought home an elegant creamy-yellow flower found at a waterfall near the Zambezi River, gladiolus literally became widespread throughout the world in just a few years. The flowers were so spectacular that they immediately won the love of European flower growers. In 1837 The Belgian gardener G. Bedzinghaus developed the so-called “Ghent gladiolus” (G. gapdavepsis), from which the history of modern gladioli began. In the year of Halley's Comet (1910), the Halley variety appeared on Dutch markets and was a huge success. For several corms of this variety they paid up to 4 thousand guilders. To date, almost 70,000 varieties of gladiolus are known, and about a hundred new ones are registered in international lists every year!

In the 50-60s of the last century, gladiolus was on the crest of a wave of popularity in such a flower country as Holland. At this time, Dutch breeders developed many new varieties. Some of them have proven themselves very well in terms of the sum of their characteristics and are still popular (for example, Oscar, Red Ginger and others). Gladioli are widespread in England and their popularity in this country is stable. It was in this country that the first society of gladioli growers in history was created. Now gladiolus is one of the five most common cut crops in the world.

Legends about flowers

Legends and myths about plants - Gladiolus

The Tale of Gladiolus by Anna Saxe:

When Teres woke up in the morning and told his friend his dream, Sevt had nothing to add, because they both saw the same dreams. Teres dreamed that he, dressed as a warrior, entered the arena, and Sevt stood against him with a sword in his hand. They look at each other in confusion, and the crowd roars for the gladiators to begin the fight. No one has the strength to raise a sword against a fellow sufferer, and then a beautiful Roman woman hurries to Teres and says: “Cut him so that you are a winner, then you will receive freedom and my love!” He swings his sword, but at that moment a voice is heard from underground: “Listen to what your heart tells you!”

In the evening, when friends were returning from classes, they met two girls. These were Barbagalo's daughters, Octavia and Leocardia. When Octavia's gaze touched Teres's eyes, it seemed to him as if lightning had pierced him and pinned him to the ground. He stood petrified and looked at the beauty, not noticing that Sevt and Leocardia were looking at each other in the same way. Love is not only blind, it is usually also wise and knows how to find ways so that lovers can meet even when there is such an abyss between them, like between a winner and a slave. For a long time, Barbagalo did not know that his daughters were secretly meeting with gladiators, until Octavia herself once confessed to him her reckless love for Teres, and soon Leocardia came with exactly the same declaration of love for Sevtus.

Barbagalo, knowing the stubborn nature of his daughters, did not imprison them in a castle and did not prohibit short visits with their lovers. He informed them that at the next gladiator fights, Teres and Sevtus would enter the arena against each other, and whoever was the winner would receive freedom. The sly man hoped that both strong men would fight tooth and nail, so that not one would survive, and the result would be an unprecedented spectacle.

The day of gladiatorial combat has arrived. There was no free seat in the amphitheater, and in the first row near the arena itself sat Barbagalo with both daughters, Octavia and Leocardia. When Teres and Sevt entered the arena, dressed in the military costumes of the Thracians, and flashing their raised swords, they exclaimed, “Those doomed to death greet you!” - The crowd roared with delight. Octavia looked at Teresa encouragingly, and Leocardia nodded her head to Sevta and, pointing at Teresa, turned her clenched palm with her thumb down. The gladiators took up a fighting position and raised their swords. The audience froze, and the hearts of the two girls - two sisters - stopped for a moment.

Death to them! Octavia jumped to her feet and exclaimed: “Teres, fight for our happiness!” With exactly the same words, Leocardia addressed Sevtus. Then Teres, waving his sword, silenced the spectators and, proudly raising his head, said:

Having said this, he stuck his sword into the ground, and Sevt did the same. The merciless crowd of spectators felt deceived.

Of death! Of death! We demand death! - everyone shouted. Barbagalo gave his soldiers a sign to kill the gladiators. When the bodies of Teres and Sevt were taken from the arena, a miracle happened: the swords stuck in the ground suddenly turned green, buds appeared on them and flowers bloomed.

Anna Saxe. Gladiolus

(from the book "Tales of Flowers")

Among the captured Thracians, the Roman commander Barbagalo chose the strongest young men Teres and Sevtus, ordering the rest to be killed. He took these two handsome men to Rome and sent them to a gladiator school. Longing for their homeland, pain over lost freedom, humiliation from the position of slaves tormented the young Thracians, and they asked their gods for only one thing - that death would come to them as soon as possible. But the gods were merciless to them. Days passed, and the young men woke up every morning alive and well, took their swords and went to training.

“Perhaps the gods have other intentions for us,” Teres spoke quietly to Sevt one day. - Maybe they want us to learn how to use swords and avenge the dishonor of our people?

If the gods couldn't protect our people, what can we? - Sevt sighed bitterly.

Let’s ask the goddess of dreams, let her predict what awaits us in the future,” Teres suggested, and Sevt agreed with him.

When Teres woke up in the morning and told his friend his dream, Sevt had nothing to add, because they both saw the same dreams.

Teres dreamed that he, dressed as a warrior, entered the arena, and Sevt stood against him with a sword in his hand. They look at each other in confusion, and the crowd roars for the gladiators to begin the fight. No one has the strength to raise a sword against a fellow sufferer, and then a beautiful Roman woman hurries to Teres and says: “Cut him so that you are a winner, then you will receive freedom and my love!” He swings his sword, but at that moment a voice is heard from underground: “Listen to what your heart tells you!”

You had my dream! - Sevt exclaimed in surprise.

Love is not only blind, it is usually also wise and knows how to find ways so that lovers can meet even when there is such an abyss between them, like between a winner and a slave. For a long time, Barbagalo did not know that his daughters were secretly meeting with gladiators, until Octavia herself once confessed to him her reckless love for Teres, and soon Leocardia came with exactly the same declaration of love for Sevtus.

Barbagalo, knowing the stubborn nature of his daughters, did not imprison them in a castle and did not prohibit short visits with their lovers. He informed them that at the next gladiator fights, Teres and Sevtus would enter the arena against each other, and whoever was the winner would receive freedom. The sly man hoped that both strongmen would fight tooth and nail, so that neither would survive, and the result would be an unprecedented spectacle.

Soon Barbagalo's hopes began to come true. Octavia urged Teres to get victory at any cost, because it would give him freedom, and Leocardia repeated the same to Sevta. The sisters hated each other because each fought for her own happiness, but the happiness of one meant the misfortune of the other. And the friends’ swords now rang sharper and more mercilessly, as if they were already thirsty for warm blood.

The day of gladiatorial combat has arrived. There was no free seat in the amphitheater, and in the first row near the arena itself sat Barbagalo with both daughters, Octavia and Leocardia.

When Teres and Sevt entered the arena, dressed in the military costumes of the Thracians, and flashing their raised swords, they exclaimed, “Those doomed to death greet you!” - The crowd roared with delight.

Octavia looked at Teresa encouragingly, and Leocardia nodded her head to Sevta and, pointing at Teresa, turned her clenched palm with her thumb down.

The gladiators took up a fighting position and raised their swords. The audience froze, and the hearts of the two girls - two sisters - stopped for a moment.

But at that moment, when the raised hand of Teres was preparing to pierce the chest of Sevt with a sword, he heard the voice of his heart, which said:

Thracian Teres, what will you answer to your motherland if you become the murderer of her son?

Sevt’s heart asked the same question, and they rushed to each other and embraced.

The crowd was outraged and shouted:

Death to them!

Octavia jumped to her feet and exclaimed: “Teres, fight for our happiness!”

With exactly the same words, Leocardia addressed Sevtus.

Then Teres, waving his sword, silenced the spectators and, proudly raising his head, said:

You turned out to be stronger than us and we became prisoners, but you will not be able to turn us into villains. You can kill us, but you cannot defeat us!

Barbagalo gave his soldiers a sign to kill the gladiators. When the bodies of Teres and Sevt were taken from the arena, a miracle happened: the swords stuck in the ground suddenly turned green, buds appeared on them and flowers bloomed.

These flowers were called gladioli.

Gladiolus. Stories and legends

prepared by Ekaterina Ziborova

The crowd roared indignantly. The trumpets sounded again, demanding a duel, and when the warriors again did not satisfy the expectations of the bloodthirsty Romans, they were put to death.

But as soon as the bodies of the defeated touched the ground, blooming gladioli grew from the hilts of their swords, which to this day are considered a symbol of friendship, loyalty, memory and nobility.

Currently, gladiolus is one of the five most common cut flower crops in the world.

Ekaterina Ziborova

All about gladiolus on the website Gardenia.ru

Flowers have occupied an important place in human life since ancient times. The reason for the emergence of various legends and beliefs were their some features. Flowers have been cultivated for centuries, and people love to tell beautiful stories about them. Let's talk about the plants of autumn flower beds that decorate gardens and delight the eye until frost. Typical fall flowers include crops that bloom from September to November.

Some features

It is short days, when the sun does not heat so much, and fog creeps in in the morning and dew appears, that are considered the most suitable period for many flowering plants. The bright and rich colors of plants in autumn flower beds evoke only positive emotions and help cope with autumn depression. Crops grown during this period easily tolerate temperature changes, are not capricious and are not afraid of light frosts. And, for example, ornamental cabbage generally grows almost throughout November.

Plants of autumn flower beds and their names

The queen of autumn flowers is called the chrysanthemum, which has many varieties, flower shapes and a riot of colors. The inflorescences remain on spreading and lush bushes almost until frost. Late varieties of roses with shades of cream, soft pink, tea and lemon colors are especially popular among gardeners. Helenium bushes, completely strewn with bright orange or brick-brown flowers with delicate greenery, add originality to the flowerbed. September flowers and asters are many favorite autumn flower garden plants. The first - with classic petal tones of white or red, and the second - with bright purple and heavenly shades. The late varieties of tall dahlias evoke admiration. They look especially impressive in single plantings, causing delight with large flowers of various colors. Red or orange crocosmia with sword-shaped leaves fits perfectly into the border of flower beds with violet or lilac asters. Zinnia does not fade until frost and attracts attention with its elegant orange, white and red-raspberry shades. Lilac, white and blue arrows of delphinium, which delights with rich and bright colors, look good in autumn flower beds. In a shaded area, Japanese anemone and tricyrtis add charm. Shrubs with bright balls of hydrangea and crimson heather look incomparable. The list of autumn flowers is endless. Every gardener can experiment and choose the most suitable options from several plants for the autumn flower garden.

Flower garden design from asters and chrysanthemums

It is preferable to use tall classic chrysanthemums as a background; they have a lot of greenery and dense flowers. Plant asters on the front edge, best of all New England or New Belgian with a small bush height. Particular attention should be paid to the color palette. For example, tall flowers are pink, and low flowers are burgundy, white or scarlet. In addition, several cereal crops should be included in the composition.

Aster

Its homeland is Northern Asia. Aster is a plant of autumn flower beds. Beliefs and legends associated with it are passed down from generation to generation. Here are some of them.

Five centuries ago, a botanist from France came across the seeds of an unknown plant. He sowed them, and a wonderful red flower with a yellow center blossomed. It was similar in appearance to a daisy, only larger. That's what they called him - "Queen of Daisies". Gardeners began breeding new varieties, and, after some time, they got a beautiful flower with double petals. One of the nerds shouted: “Aster!” Translated from Greek it means "star". This is how the flower got its name “aster”. Annuals are especially popular among gardeners thanks to the efforts of breeders from France.

According to another belief, the flower received this name due to its thin petals reminiscent of star rays. If you go out into the garden where asters grow at midnight and stand between them, you can hear their quiet whispering. This is how they communicate with the stars. The constellation Virgo is always associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. According to ancient Greek legend, when the Virgin cried and looked at the earth, an aster was formed from fine cosmic dust. This flower is considered a symbol of the fair sex, who were born under the sign of Virgo. For the ancient Greeks, it means a wonderful feeling - love. Charm, elegance, modesty, beauty and precision are in China. In Hungary, the aster is the rose of the golden season and an ideal plant for the autumn flower garden. The belief about her is as follows. Several centuries ago, people believed that smoke from a fire into which aster petals were thrown would drive away snakes.

Chrysanthemum flower garden

The main emphasis, of course, is given to the autumn “queen” of burgundy and bronze shades. Golden rudbeckia will go well with it, and pink sedum should be planted along the edge of the flowerbed. Many gardeners call her the queen for her abundant and long flowering in the autumn. This beautiful plant has been cultivated in China since ancient times. It is recognized as a magical flower not only in this country, but also in Japan.

There is even a special ritual dedicated to its presentation. From the second half of the eighteenth century, this amazing flower became known to Europeans. To date, more than 600 varieties and varieties have been bred, which differ in flowering time, shape and size of petals, length of pedicels, and color. This plant is unpretentious for autumn flower beds, but prefers well-lit places and does not like stagnant water. You can propagate in several ways, using cuttings, seeds or dividing the bush. To form large flowers, the side shoots are removed, leaving no more than three buds.

Flowerbed of dahlias

Dahlias look great on their own. To enhance their beauty, needle-like dark red and bright yellow hues are best paired with white or crimson nymphal dahlias. All varieties of this plant in the autumn flower garden (photo below) are simply magnificent. These luxurious flowers were brought from America to Europe in the sixteenth century by settlers from Spain, where they were grown for the consumption of tubers.

After some time, breeders noticed the beautiful flowers. The ancestor of all modern diversity is the dahlia variable. The plant is heat-loving, despite its late flowering. It is demanding on the soil and prefers well-fertilized soil with drainage and regular watering. They reproduce by dividing tubers.

Zinnia

One of the most famous and many beloved crops among gardeners around the world. This name was given to it by K. Linnaeus in honor of Professor Zinn, who headed the botanical garden in Gotting. This flower was first discovered in the gardens of the Aztec ruler Montezuma by the Spaniards. The stem of different varieties differs in height and can reach one meter. Blooms until frost. Sunny places are preferable for growing. It has a huge variety of colors - almost all shades, with the exception of blue. In the USA, zinnia is the national flower.

Gladioli

Africa is considered the birthplace of the flower; in this country it symbolizes happiness. In Rome and Ancient Greece it is a symbol of gladiators, as it is shaped like a sword. Healers and shamans attributed magical properties to it. Gladiolus is an autumn flower garden plant. Beliefs and legends say that in ancient times in South Africa, when wars were commonplace, invaders descended on a small village. The elder disappeared, hiding all the values of the community from enemies. But they captured his daughter and tortured her, trying to find out where her father was hiding. The girl did not utter a word, and then the strangers decided to execute her in front of the entire community. As soon as the sword touched the girl’s neck, it suddenly turned into a flower with blood-red buds. The enemies got scared and decided that it was the gods who were condemning them, and quickly ran away, saving the young girl’s life.

There are other legends about the origin of this wonderful flower. Here is one of the beliefs. An autumn flower garden plant, gladiolus roots, hung on a warrior’s chest as an amulet, will save him from death and help him win a battle. In the Middle Ages, German infantrymen believed in the magical power of bulbs and wore them as amulets.

Gladiolus requires fertile soil, abundant infrequent watering and a lot of light. After flowering, the green part of the plant is cut off, and the bulb is left to ripen for up to two weeks. Then it is dug up, dried and stored in the refrigerator until spring. Thrips are the main enemies. They hide in the bulbs; to combat them during the growing season, the plant is sprayed with fungicidal agents. They reproduce by daughter bulbs, or they are also called babies.

Marigold

The Latin name of this plant is Tagetes, so it was named in honor of Tagetus - the grandson of Jupiter and the son of Genius. He became famous for his ability to predict the future. The boy had high intelligence and a unique gift of foresight. He appeared to people in the form of a baby who was found in a furrow by a plowman. The kid taught people to tell fortunes using the insides of animals, and also told them what would happen next in the world. He disappeared just as he appeared, completely suddenly. His predictions were recorded in prophetic books and passed on to their descendants.

A story about an autumn flower garden plant (grade 2)

In ancient times, a little boy grew up in a poor family. He was weak and sick. That's what his name was - Zamorysh. However, with age, this child learned to heal and learned all the subtleties and secrets of medicinal herbs. People came to him for help from various surrounding settlements. One day an old man appeared who was jealous of Zamorysh’s fame and decided to destroy him. On one of the holidays, he presented him with wine to which poison had been added. After drinking it, Zamorysh realized that he was dying. He called people and asked them to take a marigold from his left hand after his death and bury it under the poisoner’s window. His request was fulfilled. And in the place where the nail was buried, golden flowers grew, which cure many diseases. And they were named after this boy - marigolds. Here is a short story about one of the plants in the autumn flower garden.

Calendula

It is popularly called marigold because of the unusual shape of the fruit. Catholic Christians decorated the statue of the Mother of the Savior with calendula and called it “Mary’s Gold”. The flower of “ten thousand years” is how it is called in China, where it symbolizes long life. In ancient India, garlands were woven from this plant and decorated with statues of saints.

Another name for the flower is “bride of summer” because of its ability to turn after the sun. The petals bloom in the light and gather in the shade. Because of this property, the ancient Romans called calendula “the master's dial.” They believed that in this way the plant lets them know about the onset of day and night. Another name is “calendar”. Currently, the double varieties with large inflorescences that have been bred have lost the ability to close at night, but this name remains.

Phloxes

This flower came to Europe in the mid-eighteenth century, and North America is considered its homeland. Translated from Greek it is “flame”. Tall wild flowers resembled flames in color and shape, hence the name that C. Linnaeus gave them. Phlox is very often used together with other plants for the autumn flower garden. Beliefs and legends about them say that when Odysseus and his comrades emerged from the kingdom of Hades, they threw their torches to the ground. Soon they sprouted and turned into wonderful flowers - phlox. According to another legend, in ancient times there lived a girl who loved to sew. She was a skilled craftswoman. She had a lover and they were going to get married. However, the groom was taken into the army. Since then, the girl cried all the time from melancholy and sewed different outfits for people. One day she accidentally pricked her finger because her eyes were blurred with tears. From a drop of blood, a fiery flower suddenly grew, similar to her love, and red like her blood.

They bloom for a long period, starting in April and ending with the first frost. This is one of the plants of the autumn flower garden. The beliefs and legends associated with pansies are very beautiful. Here are some of them. In ancient times, there lived a beauty named Anyuta. One seducer broke the heart of a trusting girl who loved him with all her soul. From sadness and melancholy she sunbathed and died. Flowers grew on her grave, which were painted in three colors. They symbolize the feelings that the girl Anyuta experienced:

surprise at injustice and insult;
sadness associated with unrequited love;
hope that reciprocity will arise.

The ancient Greeks considered three colors of pansies to be a sign of a love triangle. According to another legend, Zeus liked the daughter of King Io of Aragon. And his wife turned her into an animal - a cow. After long wanderings, she returned to her human form. Zeus grew violets as a gift to the girl. These flowers have always been a symbol of fidelity and love. Some peoples have customs associated with this plant. In England, they were presented to lovers on Valentine's Day, calling them “heart delight.” As a sign of love and fidelity, they were given to a lover in Poland when he was leaving for a long period. They were called “flowers for memory” in France. According to Roman mythology, they are associated with the image of Venus. The ancient Romans believed that the gods turned men into pansies who sneaked a peek at the goddess of love bathing.

Autumn cereal crops

Let's look at several plants of autumn flower beds and their names:

Acute-flowered reed grass. A perennial bush about one and a half meters high with hard, narrow leaves. In July, panicle inflorescences appear and last until the cold weather. The plant is unpretentious, but prefers sunny and dry places. In spring, leaves and flower stalks must be cut off, leaving three centimeters from the ground.
Blue molinia. Grows up to 60 cm, forming a loose, spherical bush. Panicle inflorescences appear in August and last until frost. In autumn, narrow long leaves dress in a bright yellow outfit.

These plants are successfully used to decorate flower beds; they retain their beauty in winter.

Work before wintering

Overgrown bushes should be replanted. Carefully examine the root system and bulbs, removing weak and diseased parts. Dry the rhizomes and bulbs of gladioli, peonies and dahlias and store in a cool place. Apply fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium to plants that do not require replanting. The ground under the bushes needs to be dug up. Carefully trim and cover the roses. In early September, plant tulips and daffodils. Collect seed material for the next season from annuals. Cover climbing perennials with your own shoots. Sprinkle the soil around the peonies with sand and ash, and cut off the greenery. You can cover it when frost starts.

Conclusion

What plants to use for autumn flower beds? There is room for your imagination. Hanging flower beds with small climbing flowers look intricate. And plants in flowerpots or baskets look spectacular on rainy days. Gladioli in bright colors, planted singly or in groups along a garden alley along with foxgloves, will lift your spirits.

If you use various design ideas, your garden will sparkle with bright colors in the autumn. After reading the article, you became familiar with some interesting facts about the origin of the names and plants of autumn flower beds (photo above).

prepared by Ekaterina Ziborova

Many poetic legends and tales have been written about this beloved plant. “Prince Gladius”, slender, in his ceremonial clothes, with an august bearing, has long captivated the flower growers of Russia.
Currently, gladiolus is one of the five most common cut flower crops in the world.

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Legends of gladiolus

Gladiolus- an interesting plant. Like any flower, it is a symbol of beauty, peace and femininity, but its name comes from the Latin “gladius” - a specially shaped sword used by Roman gladiators. Surprisingly, in Ancient Greece and among the Slavs the name of this flower is also associated with the word “sword”. So among the Greeks it is a xythion, and in Rus' it is a sword. Until the seventeenth century, the belief persisted that the gladiolus could help win a battle, avoid injury and even death. Some medieval written sources mention how knights wore gladiolus root on their chests as an amulet. This flower is often called the “King of Victory.”

But still, the legend about the appearance of gladiolus is associated with ancient Rome. It is believed that the swords of captured Phoenicians turned into its leaves. They tried to force two warrior friends, Sevta and Teres, to fight against each other, like gladiators, for the public’s needs. They were promised freedom for battle or death. The friends abandoned the fight and stuck their swords in the sand of the arena. Both were executed. And at the moment of their death, the swords of the warriors turned into beautiful flowers. Therefore, gladiolus is considered a symbol of nobility, fidelity, respect and memory. To this day, the tradition of giving bouquets of gladioli to anniversaries or award winners has been preserved. You can also give gladioli to business partners as a sign of continued cooperation on fair terms and respect. And for women and girls these flowers are brought as a sign of fidelity and true feelings.

Another legend associated with gladiolus also tells about strong love and fidelity. An evil wizard captivated a beautiful girl named Glad, intending to marry her, but she was ready to die just to avoid the fate of being the wife of an evil sorcerer. The young prince Iolus, who ruled the neighboring kingdom, learned about her. He came to the evil wizard and asked to become his student in order to sneak into his castle by cunning. Somehow, in the absence of the villain, the prince opened the dungeon, the young people looked at each other and fell in love with all their souls. They fled from the castle, but the wizard overtook them and turned them into a flower. So the slender stem reminds of Iolus, and the beautiful flowers remind of Glad.

Magical properties of gladiolus

The bulb of this plant was worn as a protective amulet, and gladiolus leaves were attached to their clothes by gladiators before each new battle. It was believed that the gladiolus was able to protect its owner from danger and allow him to return from battle unharmed. If warriors from ancient times wore gladiolus root as an amulet that protected them in battle, then women added it to flour to make any baked goods. They believed that in this way they were protecting the family from premature death.

However, in addition to its protective properties, gladiolus, which has some magical properties, was often used by healers and sorcerers. A woman who wanted to bewitch a man added powder made from this plant to her chosen one’s glass of wine. The essence of this ritual was that a man who drank a miracle potion fell in love with the first woman who caught his eye. By the way, it is worth saying that there were often cases when the witch did not have time to meet her chosen one first and another beautiful person won his heart forever.

There are many legends associated with this magical ritual, one of which tells the story of a duke and a lady who decided to bewitch him with the help of a gladiolus. The woman, intoxicated by dreams of the Duke’s wealth and power, decided to perform a similar ceremony and prepared wine for her betrothed, but left the filled glasses and went away on business. When she returned, she discovered that the Duke, in her absence, had tasted wine and fell in love with a maid who happened to be in the room at that moment. Subsequently, it was the maid who became the new duchess, but the sorceress was exiled to a monastery.

Currently, some witches use gladiolus bulbs to improve sexual potency. To do this, a man must eat this treat and wash it down with a glass of red wine.

Healing properties of gladiolus

Of course, gladiolus is also used in medicine. Back in the seventeenth century, young leaves and flowers were used to make a paste that was used to treat teeth. Dry gladiolus extracts were brewed and drunk to treat a throat, relieve fever, and simply boost immunity. Until now, some medicines for the prevention of colds include dry leaves of this plant.

Scientists have proven that gladiolus contains vitamin C in quantities greater than rose hips. If you brew the leaves of this flower and leave for a few minutes, you will get a soothing drink. It can be used in the treatment of depression, used to relieve stress and neuroses. It is useful for relieving fatigue after physical overload. You can use this vitamin drink to treat insomnia, dizziness and headaches. Compresses from gladiolus leaves treat wounds; leaves applied to the sore spot promote healing.

The Legend of Gladiolus

@Gladiolus — “sword” (translated from Latin) and has been considered the flower of gladiators since ancient times. There is one legend that tells about where this beautiful flower came from.

There was a war between the Thracians and the Romans, who were victorious. The Roman commander, after the victory, ordered the soldiers to capture the surrendered Thracians and turn them into gladiators. Among the prisoners, two young men Teres and Saint were very homesick and became friends.

Having learned about this, the cruel commander, wanting to entertain the public, forced Saint and Teres to fight against each other in front of a crowd of onlookers. The winner was promised freedom and a return to his homeland - this was the cherished desire of both friends, for which they were ready to give their lives.

Trumpets sounded, calling the gladiators to battle.

The gladiator friends, entering the ring, threw their swords aside and rushed into each other's arms. They were both executed. But as soon as their bodies fell to the ground, tall and beautiful flowers bloomed in the place where they threw their swords. Having seen such a spectacle, in honor of the most noble gladiator friends, the flowers were called gladioli , which to this day are symbols of memory, nobility, friendship and fidelity.

In ancient Rome they hung it on the chest as an amulet and talisman,

the roots of this flower, believing that the roots help not only defeat evil, but also protect from death.

Gladioli are native to Africa. There it is considered a symbol of happiness; not a single wedding ceremony or celebration is held without it.

Gladiolus is the most favorite autumn flower - tall, slender, with beautiful flowers, collected in a spike in two rows.
The leaves of this plant are long, narrow and stick out like sharp swords. Another popular name for this flower is fudge, and the scarlet inflorescences (of some varieties) look like droplets of congealed blood.

Legends of gladiolus

Gladiolus - small sword

Legends of gladiolus
“Oh, ancient Rome! Tell us the legend of Gladiolus, the flower of all Gladiators. "

Gladiolus is a sword flower, it is also the king of victory, a magnificent duelist. Among the Romans, it was considered the flower of gladiators. The name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius - “sword”. Translated from Latin, gladiolus also means “small sword.” In Ancient Greece, gladiolus was called xythion, which also meant “sword”. This name is due to the fact that this plant has straight sword-shaped leaves reaching a length of 80 cm (see “Garden Gladiolus”)

A tall slender plant with beautiful flowers collected in two rows into a pointed straight spike. The leaves are long, narrow, sticking out like sharp swords. Therefore, the plant is often called fudge. The scarlet inflorescences of some varieties are like droplets of congealed blood. Many legends and beliefs are associated with these beautiful flowers. They were credited with medicinal properties.

As legend has it, gladioli grew from the swords of Thracian warriors captured by the Romans. There was a war between the Romans and the Thracians and the Romans won. A cruel Roman commander captured Thracian warriors and ordered them to be turned into gladiators. Longing for their homeland, pain over lost freedom, humiliation from the position of slaves, bound two young captives Sevt and Teres with strong friendship. Wanting to entertain the public, the cruel commander forced his loyal friends to fight against each other, promising the winner a reward - a return to their homeland. For the sake of freedom they had to give their lives.

The Legend of Gladiolus Plants

Gladiolus is a sword flower, it is also the king of victory, a magnificent duelist. Many legends and beliefs are associated with these beautiful flowers. They were credited with medicinal properties.

A tall slender plant with beautiful flowers collected in two rows into a pointed straight spike. The leaves are long, narrow, sticking out like sharp swords

Traditionally, gladiolus is a masculine flower, reminiscent of chivalry, the true King of Victory; It is believed that this was the first German name for gladiolus. These flowers are rarely given to women, especially young girls; they look good in bouquets intended for business partners, winners and award winners. But still, many women adore these flowers and gladly accept them as a gift.

The name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius - sword. Translated from Latin, gladiolus also means small sword. In Ancient Greece, gladiolus was called xythion, which also meant sword. This name is due to the fact that this plant has straight sword-shaped leaves, reaching a length of 80 cm. Among the Romans, it was considered the flower of gladiators.

As legend has it, gladioli grew from the swords of Thracian warriors captured by the Romans.

There was a war between the Romans and the Thracians and the Romans won. A cruel Roman commander captured Thracian warriors and ordered them to be turned into gladiators. Longing for their homeland, pain over lost freedom, humiliation from the position of slaves, bound two young captives Sevt and Teres with strong friendship. Wanting to entertain the public, the cruel commander forced his loyal friends to fight against each other, promising the winner a reward - a return to their homeland. For the sake of freedom they had to give their lives.
Many curious citizens came to the military spectacle. When the trumpets sounded, calling the brave to battle, refusing to fight for the amusement of the Romans, Sevt and Teres stuck their swords into the ground and rushed to each other with open arms, ready to accept death. The crowd roared indignantly. The trumpets sounded again, demanding a duel, but the warriors did not satisfy the expectations of the bloodthirsty Romans. They were put to death. As soon as the bodies of the defeated touched the ground, their swords took root and blossomed, turning into tall, beautiful flowers. In honor of the noble gladiators they were called gladioli. And to this day they are a symbol of friendship, loyalty, nobility and memory.

An ancient Roman legend says that if you hang the roots of a gladiolus on your chest like amulets, they will not only protect you from death, but will also help you win a fight.

In medieval Europe, landsknechts wore gladioli corms as amulets, as they believed that they made them invincible and protected them from injury. It was believed that the magical power of corms lies in the mesh armor - the rib of dead covering leaves.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, healers attributed medicinal properties to gladioli. Corms were recommended to be added to milk for infants and used against toothache.

Gladiolus, or swordweed (Gladiolus) got its name for the peculiar shape of its leaves, reminiscent of a sharp sword (gladius in Latin means sword). Legend about gladiolus forever linked the origin of the proud flower with gladiatorial battles.

In ancient Rome, gladiolus was credited with magical properties; gladiators considered it their flower: gladiators wore the root-bulb of the gladiolus as an amulet on their chests and believed that it always brings victory.

According to another legend it was believed that in gladioli The swords of two faithful gladiator friends Sevta and Teres, who did not fight each other to please the emperor, were transformed and were put to death for this.

In the Middle Ages, flour from gladioli corms was added to flour when baking bread.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Englishman W. Herbert obtained the first interspecific hybrids of gladioli by crossing several South African species of gladioli. It was then that decorative interest in gladioli arose. Nowadays, gladioli are simply ornamental plants.

Today's variety of shapes and colors of gladioli is the result of many years of painstaking work by gardener breeders. The first corrugated gladioli were bred at the beginning of the 20th century in the USA by breeder A. Kunderd.