The Adonia
The Adonia, a festival dedicated to Adonis, was once celebrated today in parts of Greece. One story tells of a handsome youth that was loved by Aphrodite (Venus in Rome) and when he was killed by jealous Ares (Mars) the grief stricken goddess of love persuaded Persephone, queen of the underworld to let him spend a third of the year with her. His reappearance on Earth was celebrated in spring, while women mourned his return to the underworld at the end of summer, during the Adonia.

An ancient Greek myth relates that when Adonis' blood soaked into the ground, anemones or wildflowers sprang up. Either pick some anemones today or do as women did once during the Adonia, and plant such quick growing, yet shortlived herbs such as fennel and basil in pots to create your own garden of Adonis.