Happy May Day: Lily of the Valley

Happy May Day! 

In France, May 1st is a national holiday called La Fête du Travail (National Labor Day) as well as La Fête du Muguet (Lily of the Valley Day).

I was lucky to be in Paris on May Day one year and I loved seeing Parisians of all ages hustling through the city with bouquets of lily of the valley. It was quite funny to see how each of them managed with an extra item to juggle.  Some businessmen tucked them horizontally in the same hand that was holding their briefcase. Young girls held them out in front of them as if they were walking down the aisle. And every so often, I'd see a young woman looking at the bouquet a little too often, as if she couldn't believe that someone gave them to her. Love is grand. Each individual made me question, Who is the bouquet for? Did they just receive it as a gift themselves?

This morning I was in a garden center here in America admiring all of the new plants for sale when I heard a Frenchwoman asking for lily of the valley. It was early in the morning and I hadn't realized that it was May 1st yet. 

When I came back home to my computer the May Day proclamations were all over Facebook. So that's why she wanted Lily of the Valley today of all days! I so regret not realizing what she was doing. She was getting a lot of far flung information from the clerk about shipments and the planting season and what she really needed (in addition to some flowers to give) was someone to say Happy May Day to her!

Lily of the Valley

My best friend has a large backyard that is beautifully landscaped with sun and shade areas.  The shady sections are almost completely covered with Lily of the Valley - my estimate is at least 5,000 pips!  Her family loves it and for a week for two in May, the air is heady with muguet du bois.

And right around this time of year when I get an 8 am text - "are you awake?"  She stops at my house on the way to work bearing 2 giant bouquets of Lily of the Valley that she picked that morning.  One bouquet is for me; one is for my mom.  In the language of flowers, this gesture most surely means: love.

Thank you, Kim, from the bottom of my flower-lovin' heart.

Lily of the Valley

Code Name: LOTV

Every year, my best friend gets me my Lily of the Valley fix by cutting me a huge bouquet from her backyard.  She also indudes a companion bouquet for my mom.  Isn't she the best?

I thought that you would think it was funny that she texted me a message about LOTV.  I knew instantly what she was talking about.  This is texting for gardeners.  Ha! 

I didn't make it to her house this year in time to get the blooms at their peak.  Remember my photo among the blooms?  And what about this magnificent bouquet?  I wanted to renew my vows on the spot.

Lily of the Valley is said to mean "You will find happiness" and I hope, in this post, you did.

May Day with Laduree

Happy May Day!  In France, May 1st is the only day that anyone can sell lily of the valley bouquets on the streets of Paris without taxation. Lots of enterprising people take to the streets and offer sweet smelling arrangements to passers by.  All day you will see men, women and children carrying little bunches of muguet du bois around the city.  The custom is to give a bouquet as a sign of appreciation or love.  It would truly be a "moment of delight" to receive a bouquet from someone, don't you think?

When I was in Paris on May Day one year, I took this photograph of the May Day-inspired window at Laduree.  You can see bunches of lily of the valley, and if you look closely, you'll see that the packaging also highlights this bloom.  It must have been a limited edition candle or home fragrance.  I just love the mint and lavender packaging and their signature macaron "trees."

I wish you a happy and flower-filled May Day!

Lily of the Valley

What a treat!  I just returned home from my best friend's house with an armful of Lily of the Valley (say it with me in French, muguet du bois)!  She has a sweeping backyard full of shaded areas that are crowded with lily of the valley.  Lucky Girl!

Every year she gives me the high sign when they start blooming and I drive out for a visit and a chance to pick a giant bouquet.  This year we also dug up some pips to transplant into my yard - I really hope they take! 

I picked enough flowers today to making several arrangements around the house.  I especially love to have a tiny vase filled with a few blossoms in the first floor powder room - such a sweet touch. The bouquet above will be driven up north to the cottage this weekend - they are the ones we picked for my mom.

When you were watching the Royal Wedding, did you notice that Kate Middleton's bouquet was full of lily of the valley?  As a flower, it represents happiness.  All I can say is, Amen.

Lily of the Valley

Here comes the bride! I mean really, where is a bride when you need one? My best friend has millions of lily-of-the-valley growing in deep green swaths across her shady backyard.

Each year we try to find a date that the sun, the blooms and our schedules are all in alignment. When we do, I lay in her backyard and take photo after photo. What a delight! While I was busy taking pictures yesterday, Kim picked this bouquet for me to share with my mom. Thanks, Kim!

Bon Voyage

I kept getting texts from my best friend one Friday afternoon.
"Have u left yet?"
"Need to see u"
"Almost there"

She knew that I was heading up north for the weekend and she wanted to give me these before I left.

I love Lily of the Valley and adore how they grow wild in her backyard. She finally pulled into the driveway and jumped out of the car with this gorgeous bouquet (with the stems in a baggie wrapped with wet paper towel) all ready for our long car ride.

I can't think of a nicer way to say "Bon Voyage."

Thank you, Kim!

May Day Tradition in Paris

I love have always loved May Day and the idea of dancing around a Maypole or placing a basket of fresh flowers on the front door to welcome Spring.

I learned about another May Day tradition the last time I was in Paris. On the first of May, the tradition is to give a bouquet of lily of the valley to friends and family for good luck.

May 1st is the only day that anyone can sell lily of the valley on the streets of Paris without taxation. These heavenly white flowers were available everywhere! Throughout the day, I saw men, women and children carrying little bunches of muguet du bois around the city. It was just charming.

Lily of the Valley

The meaning of Lily of the Valley:
"You will find Happiness."

Taken in my friend's backyard, her sweeping garden of lily of the valley, fern, snow-in-summer and forget-me-nots is truely naturalized and simply gorgeous. I like to arrange a small bouquet of lily of the valley in a little empty olive jar, tied with a piece of eyelet ribbon. It smells heavenly.