You see, this amethyst, it’s a right pretty thing. Ain’t just any old rock, no sir. It’s that purple quartz, they call it. Shines so nice in the sun, like a little piece of heaven fell down to earth, I reckon.
They say the name, “amethyst,” comes from some fancy Greek words. Means somethin’ about not gettin’ drunk. Now, I don’t know about all that, but I do know it’s a pretty stone. Keeps the bad dreams away, some folks say. I just like lookin’ at it, makes me feel all calm inside.
These amethyst flowers, they ain’t real flowers, mind you. They’re these purple stones, but they grow in clusters, kinda like bunches of grapes, or them little flowers we used to pick down by the creek. Sometimes they’re all pointy, like little mountains, and sometimes they’re more rounded, like pebbles you find in the riverbed.
Now, the darker the purple, the better the amethyst, or so I hear. Them Siberian Amethysts, they’re the real fancy ones, dark as a moonless night. They cost a pretty penny, I bet. More than I’d ever spend on a rock, no matter how pretty it is. But some folks, they like to collect ’em. Like folks collect them fancy china plates, or them little porcelain dolls. I’ve seen some that are almost black, they’re so dark.
There’s all kinds of these amethyst things. I seen one called “Inca Ice” or somethin’ like that. It was a light purple, almost white. Pretty, but not as pretty as the deep purple ones, if you ask me.
- Deep purple amethyst
- Light purple amethyst
- Almost black amethyst
- Siberian Amethysts are best
They dig these amethyst flowers outta the ground, you know. Just like potatoes, only a whole lot harder, I imagine. They find ’em in mines, deep down in the earth. I wouldn’t want to go down in one of them mines, no sir. Too dark and scary. I heard they got these big machines that do the diggin’ now. Makes it easier than when they had to use them picks and shovels. Still, I’d rather be up here in the sunshine.
Some folks, they make jewelry outta these amethysts. Necklaces and rings and such. I seen a lady once, wearin’ a big amethyst ring on her finger. It was so big, it looked like she could knock you out with it! Sparkled somethin’ fierce, though. I reckon if you got the money, it’s a nice thing to have.
They even used to say in olden times that amethyst could make you smart. Not sure if that is true. Probably not. A rock won’t help you if you got rocks in your head to start with. Then they also say it would keep away the liquor, stop a fella from gettin’ too much in him. Well, I never saw that happen either. Might just be stories.
These rocks also come in different shapes. You got your round ones, your pointy ones, and then these flat ones they call “geodes.” Like a rock egg, all hollow inside and filled with crystals. They crack ’em open, and it’s like lookin’ into a little fairyland. All sparkly and colorful. Prettiest things you ever did see.
I remember my old man, he found a little piece of amethyst once, down by the old mill. It wasn’t much, just a little chip, but he kept it in his pocket for years. Said it was his lucky charm. I don’t know if it brought him any luck, but he sure did like that little purple stone.
Me, I like flowers. Real flowers, that is. But these amethyst flowers, they’re somethin’ else. They got a kind of magic to ’em, I reckon. Like they hold the secrets of the earth inside ’em. And that deep purple color, it’s just so…soothin’. Like a summer sky, just before the stars come out.
- Amethyst is purple quartz
- They come from mines
- Darker the color, better the quality
- Some folks make jewelry from them
I heard that in some places they got whole caves filled with amethyst. Walls just covered in it. Imagine that. Like walking into a giant jewel box. Maybe if you believe hard enough, it is like a fairy tale. I sure like to think so. These things are pretty, that’s for sure. Even if you don’t believe in all that magic and make-believe, you can still think they are nice to look at.
I seen all kinds of rocks in my day. River rocks, fieldstones, them big boulders up on the mountain. But these amethyst flowers, they’re different. They got a spark to ’em. A little bit of somethin’ special. Like they’re alive, almost. These amethyst flowers are pretty, even an old lady like me can see that!
