Manousaki (Narcissus tazetta L.)
Narcissus, the charming young man who fell so deeply in love with his own reflection that he drowned trying to embrace it in the water… the gods were saddened to see such beauty go to waste and turned him into a flower. It grows in damp places, at the edges of olive groves, in fields, and along the banks of streams. From December through March, our fields become fragrant gardens filled with these delicate little flowers. They have many names: ‘zouboulia” in Epirus, “matsikorada” in Cyprus, and “martakoudia” in Amorgos. In Kythira, the double-flowered varieties bloom first, in early December, followed by the single-flowered ones. Unfortunately, in recent years they have been appearing in ever-decreasing numbers, especially the double-flowered ones. The main reason for their decline is overharvesting by all of us, who are captivated by their beauty and fragrance. The large bouquets we tend to pick every winter hinder their natural propagation. So do them a favor when you find them… and don’t cut them! Besides, if we like them so much, bulbs are sold at nurseries, and we can easily grow them in the garden, in a pot, or even just in a container of water.
