The delicious fragrance of this perfect delicate bell shaped flower makes lily-of-the-valley an absolute favorite!

They always remind me of a very sweet childhood memory: it is a Belgian tradition on May 1st to give a bunch of lily-of-the-valley to your mom or loved one as a token of appreciation. Apparently this tradition originated in France when  on May 1st 1561, King Charles IX of France was presented with a bunch of lily-of-the-valley flowers as a token of luck and prosperity for the coming year.

I wish their season here would be a bit longer; however they are available from California year around – for a pretty penny…

photo: Juan Carlos Torres

photo: David Barss