When I was eight, Lily of the Valley grew along our driveway and it was my favorite flower above all others! When I wanted some in my wedding bouquet, it wasn't easily available and was quite expensive. Only since coming north again, have I seen the plant growing.
Walking to our B&B in Chicago, I found these two stems in bloom & took them for the table...and a photograph. They're just about to bloom now in Lunenburg (as I write and catch up on May 28th!) We're tending our neighbor's garden while he's in Italy until mid-June, so I think I'm in for a great treat while he's absent!
Ooo, Louise, what an elegant look at your pretty lily-of-the-valley! I love your processing, and I enjoyed reading your commentary. Flowers and gardens have a way of creating long-lasting, treasured memories. How wonderful that you found these two stems in Chicago and that now you have some ready to bloom! Enjoy!
One of my favourite flowers Louise. I used to have lots of it in my garden when I lived in Surrey and would always pick little poses to take indoors or give to friends. Such a beautiful perfume! Sadly I don't have any in my present garden but only last week a friend told me she has lots in her garden as it spreads and I asked her if she could dig some up for me. Fingers crossed she remembers! Fav for your beautiful image!
@pamknowler Don't know if I ever mentioned out neighbours, Billy & David...best friends of ours. They look after our house in the winter, and when they go to Italy for 2 mo, we take care of their place. B knows how much I love the blooms, so I may drop him a note and ask if I might take some of the plants to my yard...he has quite a swath! Of course, we don;t usually come here so early, so I still may miss them...
@joysfocus Hi Joy! Had I only ever lived in CA I might never have seen them either. I think they need a hard winter. But oh my! do they smell divine! Even these two sprigs smelled wonderful! I can't wait to have a grouping of a dozen or more! I wish they would keep!
So glad you got out to clear your head and photograph some beautiful animals! Now, while I have these flowers, we won't have zoo animals... I did, however have two huge raccoons on the porch the other night!
Oh I do love lily-of-the-valley so much. I've had numerous attempts to grow it, all to no avail I'm sorry to say. Lovely shot of a lovely flower Louise.
@golftragic Perhaps there will be more coming this way soon! I think they need a freezing winter (summer?), something you don't have there...nor do we in So California!!
@Weezilou Having read your account, I strongly suspect you're right. But I'd prefer not to have freezing winters though. I'd just curl up and shrivel away. I wonder if the bulbs or whatever should be kept in the fridge crisper like we do with tulips?
@golftragic It would be worth a try! But where would you get your first plants? I couldn't bring these back into the states...but then again, I could get some from Chicago, for instance...
So glad you got out to clear your head and photograph some beautiful animals! Now, while I have these flowers, we won't have zoo animals... I did, however have two huge raccoons on the porch the other night!