The Lovely Lily Of The Valley
These glossy-leaved perennial plants have beautifully dainty bell-shaped white flowers that have a sweet, and classic, scent. Everyone has either seen or smelled these, but did you know that they are the only species of the genus Convallaria in the asparagus family? Or that they aren’t actually a lily? As these are the May birth flower, we would like to wish all our members who were born in May the happiest of birthdays!⚘
✽The botanical (scientific) name for Lily of the Valley is Convallaria majalis (or maialis), which means “of/belonging to May.”
✽It grows in shady areas in temperate zones across North America, Europe, and Asia.
✽These spread by way of stolons and/or rhizomes that sprawl out either underground, or above ground.
✽As of 1967 the Lily of the Valley has been the national flower of Finland.
✽May 1 is La Fête du Muguet (Lily of the Valley Day) in France.
✽Historically the leaves were used to create green pigment.
✽In the Victorian times the flower symbolized the return of happiness.
✽During the Middle Ages, Lily of the Valley were used in bridal bouquets because they meant chastity, modesty, and purity.
✽It was used in the bouquets of Princess Astrid of Sweden; Queen Victoria; Grace Kelly; and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton).
✽According to Christian lore, when Eve was banished from the Garden of Eden, Lily of the Valley emerged where her tears hit the ground.
✽The Lily of the Valley was the floral emblem of Yugoslavia.
✽Many perfumes use/have used the scent, such as Dior’s Diorissimo, Olivia Giacobetti’s En Passant, Penhaligon’s Lily of the Valley, and Henri Robert’s Muguet de Bois.
✽In the past, especially during WWI, Lily of the Valley was used to create an antidote for gas poisoning, to help treat epilepsy, heart conditions, burns, and to assist in sedation. It isn’t used often anymore because:
✽Every part of the plant is poisonous, as they all contain 38 different cardiac glycosides. Symptoms can range from drowsiness, blurred vision, abdominal cramping, vomiting, slow heart rate, and death due to heart failure.
✽These are not just poisonous to humans, but also to animals, so don’t let them so much as nibble on a leaf or flower.
✽The flower of the Lily of the Valley is said to be used by fairies as drinking cups.
✽It is also supposedly will protect your garden from evil spirits.
✽These have been known to be used as a charm to protect you from a witch’s spell.
✽Another tale tells us that the Lily of the Valley appeared from the blood shed by St. Leonard of Noblac as he battled with a dragon.
✽ Last - and far from least - “Lily of the Valley” is a song by the band Queen on their album Sheer Heart Attack.
If you want to talk with other plant loving people, share pictures of your plants, look for inspo, etc., check out HPH on Facebook to join our global community of plant lovers! ⚘
We would like to wish the Happiest:
💙2nd Birthday to Carl on May 1💙
💜5th Birthday to Alexis on May 15💗