The story of the Bleeding Heart. The Bleeding Heart plant has beautiful blossoms that when taken apart can tell the story of a handsome prince and beautiful princess's quest for love. This is the story that my beloved mother in law, Peggy, told my children. She had several Bleeding Heart plants in her yard and the kids would always ask for her to show them how to take the flowers apart along with the story. Here's my rendention of her story: Once upon a time there lived a beautiful, but vain, princess searching for her true love prince. She selfishly scoffed at all the many young princes who came to court her. She even ignored a young but not so handsome prince, who was deeply in love with her. He tried over and again to win her heart. One day, the young prince found two pretty, pink rabbits at the market, and sent them to her in hopes they would surely melt her heart (carefully break off the two outside petals of the flower which look like pink bunnies). The Princess paid no heed. Then the prince sent her a pair of beautiful slippers. (from the front and back of the flower, peel away the two long petals which resemble dainty shoes with slender insteps), the princess would still have nothing to do with him. The young prince's heart began to break; taking his dagger, he pierced that of which was painfully aching him. (the remains of the flower make the outline of a heart with a line down the center. The green stamen, which looks like a dagger, is put through the center of the heart). When the princess realizes the wrong she has caused, and that her true love is no more, she declares, "As long as I live, my heart shall bleed for my prince." I cannot tell you where this story came from and it is not mine to own. There are several versions that I have heard of that states the slippers are earrings. Whichever, it is still a sweet romantic story that is very unique to the Bleeding Heart plant.

{For Picture Winter Day 27--Give Yourself A Hand} just packed away the baby bunny slippers. Our last of six kids has outgrown them. Bittersweet.