Flower of the Month - Lily of the Valley Fragrances
Flower of the Month - Lily of the Valley Fragrances
May is Lily of the Valley month...
Whenever I smell the fragrant scent of lily of the valley, I am instantly transported to my childhood days of early summer picking the precious white bell flowers at my grandmother's house. They bloomed for a short time, and could only be found on the backside of her house in a shaded area that never received direct sunlight. It was our secret garden, and only my grandmother and I knew it existed. We would be very quiet and careful while harvesting the delicate flowers as not to disturb the tiny garden fairies that played the bells at night and slept during the day, as grandmother would say. I would lay on my stomach and gently reach for the stems. Once we had a small bundle gathered, my grandmother and I would place them in a ceramic cup filled with water, and display them on the kitchen table. As is the case in many Midwest farmhomes, the kitchen was the center of grandmother's house, so for the month of May her home was filled with the light floral green scent of lily of the valley.
My mother, knowing my fondness for lily of the valley, bought me a bottle of Jessica McClintock perfume, allowing me to enjoy the scent from grandmother's hidden garden all year. Not only did I wear it as a perfume, but I also used it as a room and linen spray for a bright burst of spring any time of the year.
In honor of the month of May, we pay homage to Lily of the Valley (muguet in French).
("Flower of the Month: Lily of the Valley Fragrances." The Perfume Girl May 2013)