Oh my. Lily of the Valley in these parts. I had planted some one spring in Chicago with anticipation of beautiful late spring blooms the following year. Unfortunately I moved and I have no idea if my plantings were successful. And heaven knows Lily of the Valley won’t grow in these parts. I love the stuff. Such a contrast, the delicate and fragrant bell-shaped white flowers against the beautiful strapping green leaves.
Against advice, I planted a batch of lily of the valley in my shady side yard. People warned me that they would take over and be unstoppable. Bring it on, said I.
Alas, nothing ever really happened. I see a few of the elegant leaves around this time of year, but no little white bells and no sweet fragrance.
I wanted them to commemorate my time in La Creuse, during which I got to go muguet-hunting.
Unfortunately, lilies of the valley don’t grow at all in Texas. The best we seem to be able to do is grow invasives like evening primrose, lambs’ ears, and Queen Anne’s Lace s tidy little perennials!
While biking through Connemara several years ago, I was amazed at the profusion of rhodoendrons – which are regarded as a nuisance plant there, taking over the niche of native fuschia. These rhododendrons were often trees five or six feet tall!
What is an invasive species somewhere is a treasured plant somewhere else!
I still wish that lilies of the valley grew here.
Rhodos are gorgeous, we have a whole hedge here and I planted another one with cuttings. Vibrant purple in two months! Lilies I haven’t seen here yet but tons of violets, and wild orchids…
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It’s also the Worker’s Day.
Oh my. Lily of the Valley in these parts. I had planted some one spring in Chicago with anticipation of beautiful late spring blooms the following year. Unfortunately I moved and I have no idea if my plantings were successful. And heaven knows Lily of the Valley won’t grow in these parts. I love the stuff. Such a contrast, the delicate and fragrant bell-shaped white flowers against the beautiful strapping green leaves.
Lily of the Valley is such an evocative name! Better than muguet, IMO!
Against advice, I planted a batch of lily of the valley in my shady side yard. People warned me that they would take over and be unstoppable. Bring it on, said I.
Alas, nothing ever really happened. I see a few of the elegant leaves around this time of year, but no little white bells and no sweet fragrance.
I wanted them to commemorate my time in La Creuse, during which I got to go muguet-hunting.
Unfortunately, lilies of the valley don’t grow at all in Texas. The best we seem to be able to do is grow invasives like evening primrose, lambs’ ears, and Queen Anne’s Lace s tidy little perennials!
While biking through Connemara several years ago, I was amazed at the profusion of rhodoendrons – which are regarded as a nuisance plant there, taking over the niche of native fuschia. These rhododendrons were often trees five or six feet tall!
What is an invasive species somewhere is a treasured plant somewhere else!
I still wish that lilies of the valley grew here.
Rhodos are gorgeous, we have a whole hedge here and I planted another one with cuttings. Vibrant purple in two months! Lilies I haven’t seen here yet but tons of violets, and wild orchids…
Such a sweet, delicate flower. Lily of valley were my mom’s favorite. And yes, my childhood memories are that they are very hardy.
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