Idea Seeds: Lily of the Valley

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. -Luke 12:27

Photo sourced from Wikipedia

The Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) is the flower of the month of May and this installments Idea Seed. It sports thick, striated leaves and soft, bell-shaped flowers distributed on a swooping stem. A woodland plant in the cooler climates and mountains, the highly poisonous lily flowers in late spring. The flowers, white with a tinge of green, have a sweet smell.

The Christian tradition at times refers to the lily of the valley as Our Lady's tears or Mary's tears. This stems from the legend that the flower sprang from the Virgin's tears at the Crucifixion. It is a popular flower for weddings and has a symbolic meaning of sweetness, humility, and return to happiness.

Are you inspired by the forms and colors of a certain flower? The silky bells of the lily of the valley carry a delicate femininity. They conjure the image of a fresh bouquet of wildflowers on an antique kitchen table, the promise of spring, and the song of birds.

Flora and fauna have long been a source of inspirations for artists, musicians, and poets. The lily of the valley has an amazing combination of textures and colors. I encourage you to take heed of the flowers you encounter, stop and smell the roses as it were. What you find may bring you the next great masterwork.

Lily of the Valley

Original vector illustration © Rachael Sinclair

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