The ‘Prato Fiorito’, that largely tree-less, whale-backed mountain dominating the Controneria on the northern side of the Lima valley, has always fascinated me whether it be wrapped in winter’s coat of snow, mantled in spring’s lushest green or bathed in torrid summer’s russets.
There is, however, one part of the year which constantly insists on taking me to its paradisiacal slopes: the middle of May, a time which most accurately describes the mountain’s epithet as the’ flowering meadow’.
I always look forwards to seeing the Prato Fiorito’s jonquils, more correctly known as the poet’s narcissus (Narcissus Poeticus) and which are to be identified with the narcissi of classical times.
In the Netherlands and Southern France the flower is cultivated to extract its oil which is used in 11% of all high fashion perfumes (‘Fatale’ and ‘Samsara’ included). Its fragrance is a sort of mixture between jasmine and hyacinth and is utterly intoxicating as poet Shelley found out when he trod its slopes when resident at Bagni di Lucca. As he rather accurately penned in that ecstatic poem ‘Epipsychidion’:
violets and jonquils peep
And dart their arrowy odour through the brain
Till you might faint with that delicious pain.
It is a hill ‘twixt Heaven, Air, Earth and Sea,
Cradled and hung in clear tranquillity;
These sweet flowers truly seem to fall in love with each other. Who doesn’t know the myth of Narcissus who, gazing at his own reflection in a pool of water, fell in love with it, tried to capture it and was punished by the Gods by drowning and being turned into a Narcissus?
(The legend of Narcissus as painted by Waterhouse).
At the same time, however, although they possess medical qualities, the blossoms are poisonous and should not be eaten. They should also not be picked and kept in a room. Their perfume is so strong that one could very well swoon to unconsciousness or at least get a bad headache!
The narcissi truly made my heart leap. They are brave elfin flowers and their presence all around filled me with an intense warmth and joy. They seem to breathe true love and their perfume was quite inebriating!
This year, I have to admit, I was a little disappointed by the number of poetical narcissi when compared to the profusion of previous years. However, to make up for this the display of gentians was awesome!
The trumpet gentian (Gentiana acaulis) is a native of central and southern Europe and grows particularly in mountainous areas, such as the Alps and Apennines. Indeed, this exquisite flower has even made its way onto the Austrian one euro coin!
Orchids and violas also made their welcome appearances:
An absolutely elated time was spent by all including our walking partners’ two dogs The beauty of the Prato Fiorito, suffused by warmest sunshine and fanned by gentle zephyrs embowered in an extraordinarily vivid setting surrounded by the Apennines and, across the Serchio valley, the Apuans was totally irresistible. Who could wish for more in life?
PS I have written several other posts on the Prato Fiorito. here are some of them: