Shhh! Let us tell you a secret: the mountains and their plants have always been the subjects of tall tales and legends. Here are a couple of them. They seem fantastic, but that doesn’t mean they are any less real. Every story has some truth in it: something that has to do with the life of those who made them up. These stories, for example, tell of an ancient rapport between men and plants, and of how we learned to use them; to eat, to heal and to smell a good deal better.
The legend of the Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)
We don’t know their names, but the legend tells of a young couple, very much in love. The husband would go up into the mountains to collect herbs and hunt marmots. But not everyone who climbs up the mountains returns. And that’s what happened to this young man. Worried, his wife went looking for him, and found him jammed between two sheets of ice, no longer among the living. She could not get close enough for a last caress. So she stood on an overhang and cried as she looked at him: her tears were so copious that they soaked her eyebrows and hair. When the sun went down and later the moon and stars gave way to the dawn, she was covered in frost, so thick it looked like a silvery fur. She didn’t want to return to her life as it had been before, so she prayed to God, asking to be allowed to stay there forever, near her true love. And her prayers were answered: she was turned into that lovely flower we call the edelweiss. The legend implies that the edelweiss is a rare plant, which grows on the rocks in inaccessible places. Actually, it is found in the alpine pastures as well, above the tree line. And wherever it is found, there it must remain: it is illegal to pluck it, because the species is at risk of extinction.
The Gentians
Many species in the gentian family find a home in the alpine meadows and pastures. Their flowers are quite lovely and flaunt many different hues, but it’s their medicinal powers that make these plants so precious. Gentiana lutea, commonly known as the yellow gentian, is indisputably one of the best herbal remedies for digestive problems and fever. The bitter substances in gentian stimulate and balance the secretion of gastric juices and bile, which when lacking causes malaise, somnolence, headache and intestinal fermentation. It is useful in assimilating food, supporting convalescents, anemics and the weak in general. A concentrated decoction or a diluted tincture can help balance oily skin. Gentiana acaulis(Koch’s gentian) has similar properties, but blander, and is used in the production of tonic and digestive aquavits, fernet, bitters and aperitifs. Its electric blue blooms grace the pastures in early summer.
There are also other species of gentian, but they are less common, like Gentiana puntata and Gentiana purpurea. Although they are not threatened, gentians should also be treated with respect: admire them in their natural habitat and resist the urge to gather them and take a bunch home with you: they will quickly wilt.
The poets’ narcissus
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a young man of extraordinary beauty. At his birth, the seer Tiresias prophesied that he would die the moment he fell in love with himself. As he grew up, Narcissus became famous not only for his enchanting beauty, but also for his insensitivity and contempt for those who loved him. Nemesis, the goddess of justice and revenge, decided to punish the young man. One day, during a hunting trip, Narcissus bent down to drink from a crystal clear lake and, seeing his reflection in the water, fell madly in love with his own image. Unable to look away, he remained there for days, consumed with self-love. Narcissus died in the lake, unable to tear himself away from the reflection of himself. In the forest surrounding the lake, narcissus flowers sprang up, becoming a symbol of beauty and vanity.
Nigritella Nigra
According to a medieval legend, there was a miraculous statue of the Child Jesus, venerated by all for its extraordinary power. A monk, driven by faith and the desire to obtain a miracle, went to the statue to pray. His fervour and devotion were so intense that, overwhelmed by ecstasy, he decided to take part of the statue as a relic by tearing off the arm of the Infant Jesus. Without food or shelter, he got lost in the mountains and wandered for days, debilitated by fatigue and hunger. With his heart filled with fear at the divine curse he feared he had raised, the exhausted monk decided to bury the stolen arm. A few moments later, he died, never able to redeem his sin. A year later, in the place where the monk’s body was found, an extraordinary flower was born: the Nigritella. Its sweet scent and blood-red colouring made it a miracle of nature, while its root, shaped like a child’s hand, seemed a sign of destiny. This flower, a symbol of suffering and redemption, became a symbol of hope for anyone who heard the tragic story of the monk and his sacrilegious act.
Juniperus nana
Juniper has always been shrouded in an aura of magic and mystery, considered a precious remedy for the body and spirit. Strong and fragrant, it has crossed the centuries intertwined with traditions and popular beliefs that have made it the protagonist of miraculous infusions, distillates and decoctions. In the Middle Ages, its berries and branches were used as protection against the most feared evils: rheumatism, respiratory ailments and even the plague. Its aroma was believed to purify the air and its essential oils could cure paralysis and tumours. In the 18th century, its oil was sold as an elixir against every ailment, from melancholy to the deepest pains. Thus, between science and legend, juniper has continued to perfume history, leaving behind the mark of ancient wisdom.
Primrose
The primrose, with its delicate golden petals, has always been a symbol of rebirth, hope and healing. Every spring, this flower embodies the power of nature awakening after winter, bringing with it the promise of new beginnings. According to a Christian legend, when St Peter, guardian of the gates of Paradise, lost his golden keys, they fell to Earth, causing primroses to bloom, small golden bells that have been known as the “keys to heaven” ever since. These flowers, delicate and luminous, have become a symbol of spiritual protection and passage between the worlds, an invisible bridge connecting the divine and the earthly, the visible and the invisible. It is also said that, in front of the sumptuous Indian Crown, Queen Victoria of England laid her eyes on a humble bunch of primroses, choosing them without hesitation. This was not a casual gesture: primroses, a symbol of health, simplicity and healing, represent values that the queen considered more precious than any material power. Thus, the primrose continues to tell stories of magic and deep connection with nature, inviting us to remember that sometimes the most precious treasures are not those that shine, but those that offer us salvation, inner peace and true beauty.
Paeonia Officinalis
It is said that, in ancient times, the Sun Emperor ruled not only over men, but also over the secret rhythms of nature. At his command, flowers would bloom all at once, like an army of colours ready to celebrate his power. And indeed, at the emperor’s first call, the fields were transformed into fragrant seas: roses, lilies and irises obeyed without hesitation, opening their petals under the bright sky. All obeyed, except for one plant with tight, mysterious buds. Silent and reserved, it remained closed, as if guarding a secret too precious to be revealed at the behest of others. The Emperor, irritated by this silent defiance, accused it of pride and disobedience and decreed its exile to the northern lands, where winter reigned long and merciless and the frost seemed to suffocate all forms of life. There, amid eternal snows and biting winds, a miracle occurred. Just when all was silent, when the world appeared motionless under a blanket of ice, that plant finally chose its time. Slowly, as if driven by an irresistible inner force, the bud opened. The petals unfolded one after the other, revealing a majestic and delicate bloom, brighter than any flower that had ever appeared under the Emperor’s sun. And so the peony was born: the flower that does not bend to commands, that does not bloom by imposition but by choice. A symbol of quiet courage, gentle strength and authentic beauty, the kind that needs neither haste nor approval. Since then, the peony has reminded those who observe it that everything has its own time, and that true greatness comes from being true to one’s nature, even when the world demands that one blossom before one is ready.
Viola Calcarata
Among the meadows and forest edges, where nature expresses itself with gentle gestures, the violet grows. Legend has it that it was once a young girl who loved to walk in silence, leaving no trace of her passage, careful not to disturb the balance of the places she crossed.
Nature, seeing such delicacy, gave her a gift: it transformed her into a small fragrant flower, able to live close to the earth and bloom without imposing itself on the eye. Thus, the girl remained forever in the landscapes she loved.
Since then, the violet has not stood out or dominated, but has accompanied the paths with its discreet presence. For this reason, in the language of flowers, it is a symbol of modesty and reserve: a beauty that allows itself to be discovered, rather than showing off.
In the Saussurea Botanical Garden, we find it just like this, among rocks and meadows, reminding us that the most precious nature is often that which asks for just a little extra attention.
We don’t know their names, but the legend tells of a young couple, very much in love. The husband would go up into the mountains to collect herbs and hunt marmots. But not everyone who climbs up the mountains returns. And that’s what happened to this young man. Worried, his wife went looking for him, and found him jammed between two sheets of ice, no longer among the living. She could not get close enough for a last caress. So she stood on an overhang and cried as she looked at him: her tears were so copious that they soaked her eyebrows and hair. When the sun went down and later the moon and stars gave way to the dawn, she was covered in frost, so thick it looked like a silvery fur. She didn’t want to return to her life as it had been before, so she prayed to God, asking to be allowed to stay there forever, near her true love. And her prayers were answered: she was turned into that lovely flower we call the edelweiss. The legend implies that the edelweiss is a rare plant, which grows on the rocks in inaccessible places. Actually, it is found in the alpine pastures as well, above the tree line. And wherever it is found, there it must remain: it is illegal to pluck it, because the species is at risk of extinction.
Many species in the gentian family find a home in the alpine meadows and pastures. Their flowers are quite lovely and flaunt many different hues, but it’s their medicinal powers that make these plants so precious. Gentiana lutea, commonly known as the yellow gentian, is indisputably one of the best herbal remedies for digestive problems and fever. The bitter substances in gentian stimulate and balance the secretion of gastric juices and bile, which when lacking causes malaise, somnolence, headache and intestinal fermentation. It is useful in assimilating food, supporting convalescents, anemics and the weak in general. A concentrated decoction or a diluted tincture can help balance oily skin. Gentiana acaulis(Koch’s gentian) has similar properties, but blander, and is used in the production of tonic and digestive aquavits, fernet, bitters and aperitifs. Its electric blue blooms grace the pastures in early summer.
There are also other species of gentian, but they are less common, like Gentiana puntata and Gentiana purpurea. Although they are not threatened, gentians should also be treated with respect: admire them in their natural habitat and resist the urge to gather them and take a bunch home with you: they will quickly wilt.
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a young man of extraordinary beauty. At his birth, the seer Tiresias prophesied that he would die the moment he fell in love with himself. As he grew up, Narcissus became famous not only for his enchanting beauty, but also for his insensitivity and contempt for those who loved him. Nemesis, the goddess of justice and revenge, decided to punish the young man. One day, during a hunting trip, Narcissus bent down to drink from a crystal clear lake and, seeing his reflection in the water, fell madly in love with his own image. Unable to look away, he remained there for days, consumed with self-love. Narcissus died in the lake, unable to tear himself away from the reflection of himself. In the forest surrounding the lake, narcissus flowers sprang up, becoming a symbol of beauty and vanity.
Juniper has always been shrouded in an aura of magic and mystery, considered a precious remedy for the body and spirit. Strong and fragrant, it has crossed the centuries intertwined with traditions and popular beliefs that have made it the protagonist of miraculous infusions, distillates and decoctions. In the Middle Ages, its berries and branches were used as protection against the most feared evils: rheumatism, respiratory ailments and even the plague. Its aroma was believed to purify the air and its essential oils could cure paralysis and tumours. In the 18th century, its oil was sold as an elixir against every ailment, from melancholy to the deepest pains. Thus, between science and legend, juniper has continued to perfume history, leaving behind the mark of ancient wisdom.
The primrose, with its delicate golden petals, has always been a symbol of rebirth, hope and healing. Every spring, this flower embodies the power of nature awakening after winter, bringing with it the promise of new beginnings. According to a Christian legend, when St Peter, guardian of the gates of Paradise, lost his golden keys, they fell to Earth, causing primroses to bloom, small golden bells that have been known as the “keys to heaven” ever since. These flowers, delicate and luminous, have become a symbol of spiritual protection and passage between the worlds, an invisible bridge connecting the divine and the earthly, the visible and the invisible. It is also said that, in front of the sumptuous Indian Crown, Queen Victoria of England laid her eyes on a humble bunch of primroses, choosing them without hesitation. This was not a casual gesture: primroses, a symbol of health, simplicity and healing, represent values that the queen considered more precious than any material power. Thus, the primrose continues to tell stories of magic and deep connection with nature, inviting us to remember that sometimes the most precious treasures are not those that shine, but those that offer us salvation, inner peace and true beauty.
It is said that, in ancient times, the Sun Emperor ruled not only over men, but also over the secret rhythms of nature. At his command, flowers would bloom all at once, like an army of colours ready to celebrate his power. And indeed, at the emperor’s first call, the fields were transformed into fragrant seas: roses, lilies and irises obeyed without hesitation, opening their petals under the bright sky. All obeyed, except for one plant with tight, mysterious buds. Silent and reserved, it remained closed, as if guarding a secret too precious to be revealed at the behest of others. The Emperor, irritated by this silent defiance, accused it of pride and disobedience and decreed its exile to the northern lands, where winter reigned long and merciless and the frost seemed to suffocate all forms of life. There, amid eternal snows and biting winds, a miracle occurred. Just when all was silent, when the world appeared motionless under a blanket of ice, that plant finally chose its time. Slowly, as if driven by an irresistible inner force, the bud opened. The petals unfolded one after the other, revealing a majestic and delicate bloom, brighter than any flower that had ever appeared under the Emperor’s sun. And so the peony was born: the flower that does not bend to commands, that does not bloom by imposition but by choice. A symbol of quiet courage, gentle strength and authentic beauty, the kind that needs neither haste nor approval. Since then, the peony has reminded those who observe it that everything has its own time, and that true greatness comes from being true to one’s nature, even when the world demands that one blossom before one is ready.
Among the meadows and forest edges, where nature expresses itself with gentle gestures, the violet grows. Legend has it that it was once a young girl who loved to walk in silence, leaving no trace of her passage, careful not to disturb the balance of the places she crossed.
Nature, seeing such delicacy, gave her a gift: it transformed her into a small fragrant flower, able to live close to the earth and bloom without imposing itself on the eye. Thus, the girl remained forever in the landscapes she loved.
Since then, the violet has not stood out or dominated, but has accompanied the paths with its discreet presence. For this reason, in the language of flowers, it is a symbol of modesty and reserve: a beauty that allows itself to be discovered, rather than showing off.
In the Saussurea Botanical Garden, we find it just like this, among rocks and meadows, reminding us that the most precious nature is often that which asks for just a little extra attention.