Lily of the Valley

May is one of my favorite months, from the abundant explosion of spring color, to the delicate, graceful blooms of its namesake flower, Lily of the Valley.

My lilies-of-the-valley are very nearly ready to bloom, and I check them out each morning on my way to work and in the afternoon on my way back in the house. They grace the walkways of my front gardens, and frolic in the backyard beneath my huge dogwood. And when the weather's just right, we have a few blissful days of overlap—when the snowy white flowers of my dogwood sparkle above the peaceful bell-shaped blooms of the lily of the valley.

This woodland plant is a herbaceous perennial that spreads underground through rhizomes, and blooms in late April/early May. The blooms around my house last two or three weeks. I also find them easy to transport, so I give take them with me in the fall when we have dinner with friends or visit family; it's nice to have a little 'thinking of you' gift.

I like these two legends noted on Wikipedia: "The flower is also known as Our Lady's tears since, according to Christian legend, the tears Mary shed at the cross turned to Lilies of the Valley. According to another legend, Lilies of the Valley also sprang from the blood of St. George during his battle with the dragon."

• Do you have Lily of the Valley in your garden?