Show & Tell Friday: Lys de la Vallee

Lilies of the Valley - from my garden

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose

I would always greet it in a garden"

- Ruth Stout

I am city girl, born and raised. I was fortunate to grow up in an apartment building directly across the street from a park and, beyond that, was Lake Michigan. So, although I didn't have a front yard or backyard, the view from every front window was miles of green, countless huge gorgeous trees, and a breathtaking lake - so large it looked like an ocean. Maybe because I grew up in a 'concrete jungle,' I always wanted a garden...

A little more than 20 years ago, right before Christmas, my family and I moved from the city to the suburbs. We built our home on a 1/2 acre lot, with a large pond that ends at the bottom of my backyard. I spent the entire winter planning my garden. In early May, the mother of my then boyfriend came out to help me plant my garden. In her trunk, Kathy had 2 large black plastic garbage bags. In them were 5 Hostas from her garden. They were from her mother's garden. I had told her how nervous I was about planting my own garden - I had never dug in the dirt, and I was so afraid that I would kill whatever I planted ;-) Kathy assured me that there was no way that I could kill Hostas - these were 40 years old - and she was right. Her gesture was so kind and loving.

The next spring I noticed these beautiful green leaves poking up from the Hostas - all I knew was that they weren't weeds, otherwise I had no idea what they were. I asked my next door neighbor - Anne - what they were: Lilies of the Valley. There were so many, I easily filled a vase with them. And the scent! So beautiful!

Midwestern weather is a singular thing - always unpredictable in its predictability. It's been known to snow and/or rain in May. Or we could go from Winter to Summer in one week, completely skipping Spring. But, no matter the weather, I know when Spring is here, my Lilies of the Valley bloom. Their bloom time is sadly too short. But, for 20+ years now, from 1-5 weeks, I have fragrant Lilies of the Valley on my desk.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Previous Show & Tell: Shanna

Vivre! Rire! Aimer!

Temple

Me & Mr. Gorgeous @ Mon Ami Gabi - welcoming Spring.