Legend of the Hyacinth

Many years ago, I would  grow a hyacinth each year for a school competition, so to me it always symbolises Spring. I understand from the net that it actually represents constancy and playfulness.

Legend has it that two gods - Apollo the sun god, and Zephyr the god of the west wind - adored a young Greek boy named Hyakinthos and competed for his attention.  Apollo was teaching Hyakinthos how to throw a discus when a jealous Zephyr blew the discus back.  Hyakinthos was killed when it struck his head and Apollo named the flower that grew from his blood, hyacinth.  Nice - not!