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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Consider the Lilies


Where scattered wild the Lily of the Vale/Its balmy essence breathes
--James Thomson, The Seasons, Spring, 1728

Lily-of-the-Valley, also known as Our Lady's Tears and Fairy Ladders, is such a shy little flower, virtually hiding its petite, white, bell-shaped blooms under broad green leaves.  The scent is subtly sweet yet a little intoxicating.  Our shady yard has lots of these old-fashioned flowers hidden here and there, under shrubs and ferns, and crowding along the back fence.  Each spring, I look forward to bringing in a small nosegay of Lilies-of-the-Valley to freshen the living room or the dining room if only for a few days.



Such charming little blossoms, yet Lily-of-the-Valley is a very hardy ground cover.  It spreads easily in the right conditions; some people even consider it a weed.  So white and innocent -- isn't it hard to believe that it is also poisonous?  Maybe that accounts for another name for the flower -- Ladder-to-Heaven.



24 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I have always loved lilies of the valley. We had a small patch near our porch when I was a little girl growing up on a farm in SD.
    They seemed so dainty, yet hardy -- and they were my May birthday flower.

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  2. I love them, but can't seem to grow them here, although I have a shady, protected spot. They grew next to the porch of the house where I grew up, as well.

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  3. Lilies of the valley always amaze me every year - especially the heavenly scent. Your pictures are beautiful!

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  4. These are my favorite flowers, it is so hard to find them in US back home my grandparents have them in their garden, and it is so amazing when the blossom!

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  5. I'd love to have a yard of blossoms where I can just cut a few stems and bring inside the house. Very beautiful flowers!

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  6. Really beautiful! I don't see these very often at all, but they're so pretty.

    ~Kim
    http://2justByou.blogspot.com
    Visiting from Blogging Buddies

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  7. Beautiful post! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Pretty! I've never seen these growing wild. They definitely don't look like the weeds we've got!

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  9. Beautiful post :) Thank you for sharing. The Dorothy Days

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  10. Have always loved them, but they are the devil to grow - even here in the UK. I've always found they like lots of shade, lots of water and just a little sun. Do miss them now that I don't have a garden of my own, and where we now live, they probably would not be too happy. We moved from West Lancashire (which can be very wet) to Wiltshire (which can be - and currently is - very dry).

    However, we've finally got some rain - we're officially suffering an "environmental drought" and likely to be until the end of the year. That's because we've not had normal rainfall for the last two winters. Another dry one, and who knows what will happen - and THIS IS THE UK, for heaven's sake.

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  11. Ladder to Heaven? Who knew! These are so gorgeous! If I had to have weeds, I'd have no problem having these. :-)

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  12. Gorgeous Lillies and just in time for this month too. They are heaven.

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  13. I've never had any luck with them. Maybe it's too hot here. I'm sure your arrangement was lovely!

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  14. Such a sweet old fashioned flower. Love your photos of them.
    Laura

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  15. I only recently found out that Lily of the valley is poisonous and couldn't believe how this fragile and beautiful flower can be harmful!

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  16. I love Lily-of-the-Valley. They have such a fragile look to them. They don't grow too well in the desert though.

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  17. Lily-of-the-valley is so delicate and sweet. I didn't realize it was a poisonous plant.
    Mary Alice

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  18. Lily-of-the-Valley is one of my favorite flowers, so you would think I would have some in my yard, but I don't. I think they sell them in bulb form around here so I'm going to see if I can find any this weekend.

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  19. Beautiful flowers and photographs.

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  20. I love lily of the valley!The last time I planted it, I killed it. Maybe it is time to give it another go!

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  21. Those photoas are very lovely!! I love how those smell...

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  22. These were my mother's favorite spring flowers. I grew them by the side of the house near her bedroom window so she could smell them.
    Wonderful memories!

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  23. It's my birth flower and I do love it. Had no idea that it was poisonous! Thanks for sharing, liz

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  24. They're such sweet flowers! Wonderful captures.

    -:¦:- Featured Photo: Tree Door -:¦:-

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