A Small Awakening

The Hellebore was growing in my garden under the snow and was revealed today once the thaw was complete.

Sometimes called a Lenten or Christmas Rose, though not related to the rose family.There is a story that it sprouted in the snow in Bethlehem from a tear shed by a poor child who had no gift for the Christ Child.
In Greek mythology the plant was used to cure the king of Argos' daughters from a madness which caused them to run naked round the city,crying and weeping and screaming.
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It's possible that Alexander the Great died from an overdose of medication containing Hellebore.

I love these legends about plants.