March 7 was World Hyacinth Day, a global celebration of this fragrant flower that springs from a bulb. Hyacinths begin to bloom in March, perfuming the air with their delicate clusters. Here at Ah Sam Florist, we’re doing our part to ensure that the hyacinth—a flower with its own Greek myth—gets its due.

These buds grew wild across the Mediterranean and the Middle East and were brought to Europe from Turkey. The name has been around since antiquity, when it was given to the flower that Apollo created from the blood of a boy who died in a discus accident. They appear in a range of hues, but we favor the violets and mauves and blues . . . There’s something fascinating about a flower that reveals itself in a more complex, moody color. You’ll see what we mean in our Hyacinth Vase Arrangement.

This is a flower that can be presented alone, with just its leaves and some additional green for embellishment. Hyacinth are forever reaching skyward, their sturdy stalks providing an interesting contrast to the delicate beauty of their petals, which look richly-detailed, as if they were painted. They’re one of those flowers we’ve come to associate with spring. Enjoy this beautiful harbinger of the season, whether it’s in your garden or in a vase.