The Midas Touch, The Ears of an Ass

 To me, the capacity to earn money has never been a measurement of success. It is my belief that people must develop a philosophy early in life which permits them to have as much pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction now as is possible without injuring themselves or others. Money can help to do this, but it is not and must not become the sole aim of a person's existence. We all know what happened to King Midas.  Rudy Vallee

After Pan had his flute made of Syrinx, he challenged Apollo to a musical contest, All the judges agreed Apollo's Lyre playing had bested the airy flute of Pan. All the judges that is except Midas, he stated his preference for the Pan flute. Apollo was incensed and said to the Grecian King 'I see the problem, it's your ears, they are much too small to hear the true beauty of my music', and with a touch he turned the kings ears into those of an ass. The King was outraged and embarrassed by this curse, but he told no one, he hid the huge donkey ears under hats, huge helmets and scarves. The only one who knew of this secret was his barber. Who had to see when he trimmed the kings hair. The barber was sworn to secrecy and he did his best to keep it to himself. But as the burden of the secret grew, he one day had to let it out. He went to the mountain and dug a hole and whispered into it, the "King has the ears of an ass". He felt immediately relieved having let the secret out. 

Fritillaria reuteri
The golden rims offset the brown on this dainty little species so well. It's an eye grabber for sure. 

The barber had kept his secret to himself, but unfortunately the hole he had dug had contained part of the Oread, or Mountain Nymph Echo. The curse of Echo to repeat the last thing she had heard was bestowed upon her by Hera for her entertaining Zuess. Pretty soon the winds had carried the echo far across the kingdom and the everyone new of the Kings ears. 

Fritillaria raddeana
This one is proving to be an outstanding early season bloomer in the old whiskey barrel at the corner of the carport.

Fritillaria pudica
The Golden Bells of the Sahaptin land in bloom in March

Fritillaria pelinaea
Perhaps one of those species that King Midas may have turned to gold with his touch as it resided in his realm? This is the first year it has bloomed for me from a V. Pilous seed collection on the aegean island of Chios, on Mount Pelineo where it is endemic. Seems to be a quick blooming and hardy specimen for the cold greenhouse. Hoping it sets seeds so I can get some garden trials going on it. 

What did happen to King Midas? Most know of the curse of the golden touch, as he couldn't eat because the food he touched turned to gold, he went to hug his daughter as she was picking roses in the beloved Rose garden and she turned to gold. He quickly realized the foolishness of his wish and begged Dionysus to reverse it. All for the love of riches. 

Stories through history, theology and contemporary times warn of the dangers of the lust of riches. I've found it interesting in my journey through adulthood to observe what some people will do in the all consuming quest for riches. What about integrity and making a difference in this world as a reward. What if everyone sought to just do a little bit better for humanity instead of following the all consuming lust for riches that can make people do such foolish things?

Also, beware the echo, what you say matters and if you want to keep something a secret don't even whisper it to a hole in the ground because you never know where that echo might carry the secret. 

Rain and wind after a mostly sunny and beautiful weekend, filled with smiles and laughs and fancy hats. 

Mark