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Farm
& Garden .
I
am a rose of
Sharon, Like
a lily among
thorns, Since
ancient times, the striking white lily we now call Easter Lily {Lilium
Longiflorum} has been treasured as a symbol of the sacred. Its long,
pure white blossoms, supported by straight slender stalks, appear to be
illuminated from within. Formal and fragrant, the lily seems almost too
perfect and too fragile for this world.
The famous French fleur de lys is, of course, a stylized lily. One story holds that when Clovis, the first French king, converted to Christianity, a white dove flew down from heaven and presented him with a lily. In the stained glass window, at left, we see the shape of a fleur-de-lys. The window is in the Bourges cathedral, 13th c., and contains many of the themes usually associated with the lily, including the Trinity, which the 3 petals were understood to recall, is represented. Angels are also bearing the shield as supporters of the arms of France, and the dove descending from heaven recalls the legend of the baptism of Clovis when a dove brought the sacred ointment to Saint Remigius. A Brief History of the Modern Lily ...
This purebred bulb of the modern lily originated in the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, but was eventually cultivated and sold by Bermuda. In the late 1880’s, as American demand for the Easter lily grew, Japan took over and dominated the market. The propagation of the lily came to the U.S. by accident. Little did Louis Houghton, WWI soldier, know in 1919, as he carried some lilium longiflorum bulbs back to Oregon, how fortuitous his botanical souvenirs were. His gardening friends received and planted the exotic lilies. WWII, of course, ended all shipments of Easter lilies from Japan to America. So, suddenly, the demand for domestic lilies exploded, and growers all along the West Coast rushed to produce the Easter Lily -- which came to be called “white gold” because of its sudden value. Ultimately, the climate in southern Oregon and northern California proved most conducive for lilies. And now, ten growers in this area produce 95% of all bulbs grown for the potted Easter lily market worldwide. While lilies are bought traditionally for the Easter holiday, their associations with fertility and purity make them a perfect plant for any celebration of spring.
Choosing
& Caring for Your Lilies ... The lily likes cool temperatures -- 60-65 degrees F -- and bright, indirect sunlight. Keep it away from the woodstove or heater. Water well, but don’t let your lily sit in water or become waterlogged. If you break off the yellow anthers at the center of the mature flower, you can extend the flowering period and keep the pollen from staining the flowers or your tablecloth yellow. Also, keep the lily away from your cats; the flowers are highly toxic to cats. After all danger of frost, you can plant your lily in your garden. There is some debate about whether your lily bulbs can blossom again, but most experts believe that you can plant the bulbs in your garden and even catch a second summer bloom. After the blossoms have died, cut them away and continue to water your lily plant, keeping it on the dry side. Also, place it in a sunny spot, and give it a teaspoon of fertilizer every 6 weeks or so. Although lilies are hardy, they do best in rich, well-drained soil and moderate temperatures. Still, you may get to see a second bloom in June, which is the natural time for lilies to blossom. If you keep them in the garden, mulch them for winter. They won’t bloom next Easter, of course, unless they’re forced, but you should be able to enjoy June blossoms for 7-8 summers. A Worthwhile Link ... The historical section is full of fascinating little tidbits. The article gives a good overview of how to buy, keep and grow your Easter Lily. The author perhaps goes a bit overboard when including a poem which “captures the spiritual essence” of the Easter Lily, but it's still better than the terse flat tone of the North American Lily Society website, which will show up high in your web searches for “lily.” Beware lily snobbery, for the Easter Lily is a “true lily,” as opposed to the common day lilies and tiger lilies you’ll see this summer loitering along the side of the road. So, we’ve chosen this site over several official lily sites for loving the lily for itself and not its pedigree. L.W. . ******* ******* If you would like to submit a feature for our Farm & Garden section, don't hesitate to let us know. Simply e-mail us at farmgarden@downstreetmagazine.com. The e-mail should contain your name, address, and a phone number where we can reach you. You may also send a copy of your proposed article. The text can either be included in the body of the e-mail, or you can send it as an attachment in just about any word processing format. If your piece is accepted, we will pay a small honorarium for your interest & your time. [See Freelancers Wanted for more details.] ******* ******* If you would like to advertise in this section, or throughout the magazine, please visit our Advertising Info Pages ... or call, write, or e-mail ads@downstreetmagazine.com. ******* *******
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