Did you watch the Royal Wedding? It was great fun to see what everyone wore and the wild hats that appeared in the crowd, but for myself, I wanted to see what the flowers would be like!
The predominant flower in Kate's bouquet was lily of the valley. I read that her bouquet was considered "green" because she chose seasonal, locally grown flowers rather than "green bling" with exotic (expensive) flowers that were grown far away.
Lily of the valley: such a cheerful little spring flower! It's a flower we know and love, native to Asia and the Northern Hemisphere, and one of the first heralds of spring blooms (hopefully that will be true this year!). Lily of the valley is considered a woodland plant, because it likes a shady location. It makes a very good ground cover (sometimes too good!) and spreads underground by rhizomes. The new shoots that spring up from the rhizomes are called pips.
The pips will grow to be ten to twelve inches tall, with broad, sword-shaped leaves. And from the centre of these leaves comes the beautiful flowering stem of the lily of the valley. The stem will have up to 15 flowers, delicate bell-shaped flowers that make lily of the valley so distinctive. And to me, what makes them so memorable is the heavenly scent.
While we are most familiar with the white lily of the valley, I have read that there are varieties with pink flowers (majalis rosea), and some have variegated leaves (majalis albostriata).
And here are a couple interesting little factoids about lily of the valley: they are also called "Mary's Tears" or "Our Lady's Tears" because one legend says that lily of the valley sprang from Mary's tears at the foot of the cross. In the language of flowers, the lily of the valley stands for humility and trust, and a return to happiness. And one more little flowery tidbit, the lily of the valley is the national flower of Finland! Who knew!
We have some lily of the valley that Mom gave us; she received the plants from a friend of hers many years ago. I always treasured them because they came from Mom's garden and that continuity was very special to me. I know that as I inhale their first heartbreakingly beautiful scent for the first time this spring, they will be even more precious to me, full of memories of my little Sweet Pea. I hope you have some lily of the valley in your garden; they are a beautiful, old-fashioned plant that will fit in even the most modern landscaping design!
It's a busy week, gardeners! The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society May 18 meeting will begin at SIGN on North Street; then we'll all head over to Young's Plant World where Kevin Young will speak to us about "Evergreens and Ornamental Trees for 2011". Then on Friday, May 20, it's our Spring Plant and Bulb Sale, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (or while stock lasts) at the Parkland Mall, Yorkton. There will be great plants at great prices!
And for those of you who were planning to go on the road trip to Regina on April 30, it has been rescheduled for Saturday, June 11. Please call Liz at 782-2830 if you are still able to go on this wonderful trip.
That's it for this time! Hope your garden is drying nicely! Have a good week!
