Monday, April 17, 2023

Lily of the Valley Flower arrangement

Lily Lilies of the Valley
Lilies of the Valley

 About 20 years ago I saw a stunningly beautiful arrangement of one of my favorite flowers at a restaurant.  Composed entirely of Lilies of the Valley, it was small and incredibly simple.  (And therefore, of course, impossible for me to duplicate.)  The waitress said one of her co-workers had created it from flowers in from her yard.

Lily of the Valley lilies by Jeanne Selep
Lilies of the Valley Desktop Background (free)

Lilies of the Valley remind me of my dad - he grew Lilies of the Valley at the house I grew up in.  I eventually planted some of his plants at my house, waited a couple of decades for it to spread, and now, years later, I am trying to recreate that memorable arrangement.  (You might call this the "long game" of flower arranging.)

Lilies Lily of the Valley arrangements by Jeanne Selep
Lily of the Valley flower arrangement


The arrangement, as I remember it, consisted of a mass of flower stems without any leaves, set in a small glass (not even a vase, really.)  


Lily of the Valley flower arrangement
Lily of the Valley arrangement


My resulting bouquet lacks the artistry of the original in my memory, (I need a shorter glass!) but I enjoyed playing with (and smelling) the flowers.  Lilies of the valley have a beautiful and unique scent - I wish you could smell them over the internet!  They last less than two weeks, and are rarely in bouquets.


Lilies Lily of the Valley Closeup by Jeanne Selep
Lily of the Valley Closeup


Do you have certain flowers that remind you of specific people or places?  Feel free mention what and who in the comments below.  And don't forget to enjoy spring - some flowers last barely a week!

 

Lily Lilies of the Valley
Lilies of the Valley


(Note: I made the mosaic table used in one of the photos, See it in this mosaic table post.)  
 

 

Click on the images to see them enlarged.


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19 comments:

  1. What a lovely post! I enjoyed learning about the symbolism and history behind lilies of the valley, and your personal connection to them. The pictures you shared are beautiful, and it's amazing to see how something so delicate can grow so resiliently.

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  2. I love your arrangement. Lily of the Valley are favorites of mine, but I don't have the wonderful backstory you do with your father and then the arrangement @ the restaurant. I simply became aware of them through Martha Stewart many decades ago. My landscape designer told me I cannot grow them in my yard but I might just give it a try anyway and see what happens. Thank you for sharing. I am sure it smells divine. XO- MaryJo

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  3. Super gorgeous. Love it and pinned it. I am not one for elaborate arrangements, so this totally appeals to me. Pinned it
    Visited you via Making a Home – Homemaking Link Up
    You're invited to hop over and come and share your posts with us at Senior Salon Pit Stop. See my entries: #17+18, and navigate to the bottom of my page for the Senior Salon Pit Stop linkup, we hope to virtually meet you there.

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  4. Those are beautiful. I like the arrangement. The mosaic table is awesome.

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  5. Love this so much!! Lily of the Valley was my favorite flower when I was growing up -- I remember that scent as if it were seven days ago instead of seven decades! My husband and I had some in our Oregon garden too, but my best memories are from when I was a child and not concerned about rain and weeds and such!... Lastly, but not least, I just love seeing early Spring flowers because we almost always spend that season in Florida now and there are no such flowers here because it's too hot (its kind of a rule of thumb, no winter, no early spring). Your pictures are wonderful -- I'd be delighted with that bouquet. Thanks for the beauty and the beautiful memories!

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  6. The arrangement is beautiful!

    Love the mosaic table.

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  7. My birth flower although sadly I've not had success trying to grow them. Their scent is lovely though, and they are so delicate.
    Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/04/continued-from-last-week.html

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  8. Your images are beautiful and I love how you are re-creating this just as you imagined it many years ago.

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  9. That is a beautiful arrangement! My grandmother used to have these same plants all over her backyard and I can't ever see them without thinking of her.

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  10. These are such delicate and lovely flowers. You did a great job arranging them and I would be happy to put them on a table!

    Thanks for sharing your link at My Corner of the World this week!

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  11. Those lilies of the valley are beautiful. Well done with your floral arrangement. Thank you for your #weekendcoffeeshare.

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  12. They are so pretty. But with animals especially a cat, I can not have them.

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  13. So pretty. Lilies of the Valley remind me of my grandma. I had some in my hard, but they haven't come up this year, so I'm not sure what. happened. I think your bouquet is pretty and I love the mosaic table.

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  14. I love lilies of the valley. I miss having them grow here in Florida. Lovely flowers and that stork is adorable. Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things. I hope you stop by. https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2023/04/flowers-and-more-flowers-on-tft.html
    Hugs,
    Bev

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  15. Lovely lily of the valley arrangement. Love the mosaic table you made also. I'm featuring you at tonight's #HomeMattersParty. Drop by so you can take a look!

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  16. I think I could smell our arrangement, very lovely on the mosaic table. Karen #Weekendcoffeeshare

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  17. ...Lily of the Valley is such a sweet spring delight. Yp certainly have a bumper crop. Enjoy your spring.

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  18. So lovely and beautiful. Would love to have this on my table right now!
    Visiting from Inspire Me Monday.

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  19. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy!

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