Today the 1st May in France it is traditionally sold in all florists. Lily of the Valley is the flower of the month for May and is part of the Asparagus family, it is also highly poisonous plant, I know some people call it a weed as it can spread quickly, in my case its going tte wrong way in the garden and invading the gravel area. It only grows in northern hemisphere . I love Lilly of the valley my Lilly of the Valley have made it and are flowering in the garden, its not every year they flower on this day, the warm spell we had over Easter has brought them forward. This little red vase is the one I usually put my Lily if the Valley in.
So many flowers have meanings and some have superstitions Lilac and other blossoms are unlucky in the house, There are people who consider white flowers to be unlucky in the house while on the other hand white heather to very lucky.
In France chrysanthemums are only used for funerals and never given as presents.
The colour combination of white and red flowers should be avoided for hospitals, now hospitals don't allow flowers in the wards saying they are a health risk, also the stage consider red and white to be unlucky.
In most of European countries it is customary to give an odd number of flowers - (even thirteen which of course would be unlucky in Britain) and they remove the paper before giving flowers.
When I had my florist shop I had a french woman come in on may the first and was so annoyed that I did not have any Lilly of the Valley, that year there was none in the market and they were late flowering, but to her it was a crime. the customer is not always right, and you cant have everything just when they want it.
I hope where ever you are in the northern hemisphere you enjoy your Lilly of the valley today.
Margaret
