Lilies of the valley are a wonderful scent of spring. Photo: lilies of the valley Reverse sides of flowering lilies of the valley

Lily of the valley is a beautiful spring plant of the Asparagus family with flowers white in the form of miniature bells, of which there can be more than a dozen on one inflorescence. Its characteristic fragrant aroma can be felt in forests and gardens from May to June. For the first time, mentions of it are found in Ancient Egypt, where these flowers were grown on a par with.

Places where lily of the valley grows

The plant is found in the temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, growing in the vastness of Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, China and North America... This shade-loving flower most often grows in forest areas (usually hiding under the shade of oaks, pines and aspens) on moist soils, but often forms extensive clumps on the edges of open glades. It also grows in the mountains, where it is found at an altitude of up to 1.5 km.

Gardeners have long loved the May lily of the valley, making it one of the clear leaders in the landscape design of spring gardens. Breeders have bred various varieties with the largest flowers. In hybrid forms, flowers are often double and even an unusual pink shade.

Various garden forms of the fragrant flower have existed and have been widely used by Europeans to decorate gardens since the 16th century. In Russia, the first lilies of the valley appeared only at the end of the 18th century, initially they were used exclusively in medicine. Now in some Russian regions these flowers are included in the Red Book, protected by law.

Name history and main types

It is believed that the word "lily of the valley" came from the scientific name of the plant in Latin, which was awarded to him by botanist Carl Linnaeus. The translation of the name means "lily growing in the valley".

The people often call the flower "lily of the field", along with the definitions "forest bell", "fallow deer ears" (for the characteristic shape of the leaves extended upward), "hare ears". There is a version that the name is associated with a fragrant aroma, widely used in perfumery, and comes from the combination of the words "incense", "breathe".

The main varieties are listed below, including wild lilies of the valley and garden varieties.

May

The most famous and most popular species, which is found almost throughout Europe, including most of Russia, and in the countries of the Caucasus. The height of its stems reaches 30 cm. Up to 20 small flowers bloom on the inflorescence, similar to spherical bells with six small teeth at the edges of the petals. They can be painted white or pink.

Keiske or Far Eastern

Grows in the taiga The Far East, Transbaikalia, China and Japan. In addition to forests, it grows in meadows and river floodplains. Some botanists are inclined to consider the plant as a species of May lily of the valley, but most singles it out as a separate species. It differs from him:

larger flowers;
highly branched rhizome;
late flowering;
the lower leaves are brown or purple

Keiske has a low stem (only 18 cm), the number of flowers per inflorescence does not exceed ten.

Mountain

This species is a typical representative of the North American flora, found exclusively in the southeastern United States. Its main difference from its May counterpart is its larger leaves and a low stem. On the inflorescence 5-15 wide flowers bloom at the base. The red-orange berries of this species of lily of the valley appear in the fall, and not at the end of flowering.

Transcaucasian

The name of the species gives the most obvious representation of its habitat. His homeland is the territory of the Caucasus, but even there he is one of rare species lily of the valley. It has large flowers with widened bells.

Ophiopogon

Although often referred to as the Japanese lily of the valley, in fact, it does not belong to the number of its varieties, but is a representative of the lily family. It grows in China, Japan, the Himalayas. The plant looks like an ordinary lily of the valley, but there is a certain similarity in the likeness of flowers and leaves. Also their love of growing in the shade makes them related.

Main garden varieties

Albostriata has atypical leaves with creamy white stripes, while Lineata has yellow stripes. Fading away, these varieties continue to delight the eyes with decorative leaves. That is why they are most often used in landscape design.

Flore Plena is a variety with 12 double flowers on the inflorescence, the stem height of which reaches 25 cm.

Latifolia - the main difference is the atypical pink flowers and wider leaves than other species.

Pink petals are characteristic of Rosea flowers, of which up to 14 blooms per inflorescence.

Yellow leaves are found in Aurea, the most golden variety.

Hardwick Hall is a modern variety with a yellow-green border around the edges of the leaves.

Viktor Ivanovich is an extravagant and highest variety of lily of the valley, the stems of which can reach 50 cm. Up to two dozen large snow-white flowers bloom on the inflorescence. After they have bloomed, red fruits appear, giving the flower additional appeal.

Artistic description of lily of the valley in legends

Beautiful lilies of the valley are surrounded by many romantic legends, they are often mentioned in fairy tales. For example, Snow White, running away from her stepmother (from the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm), scattered a necklace that turned into beautiful snow-white spring flowers. Legends attribute to the plant the role of the abode of gnomes and elves. Other beautiful legends say that lilies of the valley in the forest serve as a nocturnal refuge for sun bunnies.

The ancient Romans believed that beautiful bell-shaped flowers were formed from droplets of sweat of the forest goddess Diana, fleeing from the fauns. According to an old Russian legend, lilies of the valley are the tears of the daughter of the water tsar, the Volkhovs, frozen in the green of spring grasses, from unrequited love for the guslar Sadko.

Another legend presents them as pearls from the laughter of Mavka in love. The Orthodox consider lilies of the valley to be the tears of the Mother of God, flowers of innocence.

Symbols and interesting facts

This spring plant has the most romantic symbolism - it is associated with tender feelings, sincere love, loyalty and purity of the soul. It is not surprising that at all times they were admired by creative natures, perpetuating them in poetic lines and on canvases.

France even celebrates the day of this flower, which falls on May 1. In Finland, it is the national plant and is depicted on. It is believed that received as a gift on May 1, and then dried lilies of the valley can become a real talisman for happiness and good luck. In Holland, newlyweds should plant these flowers in the garden immediately after the wedding - as a sign of love that will never fade away.

The composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky admired the lilies of the valley. Considering them a source of his inspiration, he even dropped them off in the park behind the house. An interesting fact is that in many portraits, Nicolaus Copernicus was depicted with a bouquet of lilies of the valley in his hand. This is explained by the fact that the famous astronomer was also popular as a healer, and lilies of the valley were considered a symbol of healing.

The beauty of these spring flowers is enchanting, but it is worth considering the peculiarities of the plant, wishing to place a bouquet of them in the house. Considering that all parts of a lily of the valley are poisonous (especially berries), and its strong aroma can provoke headaches and even cause poisoning, it is important:

place these flowers in a well-ventilated area;
never put them in a bedroom or in a house where there are small children or animals that may eat flowers or berries

In order for these beautiful spring plants in a bouquet to retain their attractiveness longer, it is recommended not to pick off their leaves and add a drop of citric acid to the water where they will stand. The water should be changed every 1-2 days and the vase should never be placed in the sun.

Outcome

The fragile and delicate lily of the valley flower with miniature snow-white bells captivates at first sight. This symbol of tenderness and boundless love, even in the photo, seems like a forest wizard, giving a feeling of joy. To some, its aroma may seem very harsh, but its truly enchanting beauty is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent.

In mid-May, snow-white fragrant flowers appear in the forest between the trees, like magic pearls. Lilies of the valley are blooming.

Today we will be cheered by photographs with these beautiful flowers.

In Russia, a legend tells about the appearance of these magical flowers, the main character of which is the water princess Volkhova. She passionately fell in love with the beautiful young man and wonderful singer Sadko. But the water princess learned that Sadko loves a simple earthly girl, a beauty, Lyubava. Volkhova understood that she could not become Lyubava's rival, that she could not fall in love with Sadko. Suffering from unrequited love, Volkhova decided to get out of the water for the last time to the shore in order to see her beloved one more time, say goodbye to him, and herself forever remain in the river waters. On the shore, where she often saw Sadko, he was not. In search of her beloved Volkhov, she wandered along coastal meadows and forest paths for a long time, listening attentively to the voices of people. And suddenly she heard the voice of her beloved. Among the birch trunks whitening in the dark, she saw two figures hugging tightly, walking along a forest path. They were Sadko and Lyubava. She wanted to rush to her beloved Volkhov, but pride did not allow her to. The proud princess of the sea turned away from the lovers, decided to return to the river waters and stay there forever. Tears dripped from the eyes of the lover Volkhov and fell on the forest grass. By morning, they turned into fragrant lily of the valley flowers, which symbolize love and sadness from unrequited love.

And here is another legend about the lily of the valley. Spring did not share a young man named Lily of the Valley with love for life, and he always thanked her with warm, affectionate words. Spring fell in love with Lily of the Valley, but not for long. Forever young, she is very restless. All her life, traveling from south to north, she finds no peace for herself and, spreading affection to everyone, does not linger with anyone for a long time. In passing, she fondled Lily of the Valley. However, she soon left and left spring Flower hot summer. The young man Lily of the Valley cried so much about the beloved Spring that had left him that his tears turned into white flowers, and the blood of his heart colored the berries.

There is also a legend according to which lily of the valley flowers are pearls that emerged from the happy laughter of a Nymph in love. From childhood, many people remember the tale of Snow White. When Snow White was fleeing from her evil stepmother, she accidentally scattered her necklace, which turned into fragrant flowers. They serve as flashlights for the gnomes. They are inhabited by little forest men - elves. Sunbeams hide in lilies of the valley for the night.

Many poets sing of lily of the valley flowers in their works. In these poems, flowers most often symbolize the best human qualities: spiritual purity and innocence, tenderness, loyalty and love.

There is a belief that on bright moonlit nights, when the whole earth is engulfed in deep sleep, the Blessed Virgin, surrounded by a crown of silvery lilies of the valley, sometimes appears to those happy mortals for whom she prepares unexpected joy. When the lily of the valley fades, a small round berry grows - combustible, fiery tears with which the lily of the valley mourns the spring, the traveler around the world, scattering her caresses to everyone and never stopping anywhere. Lily of the valley in love also silently endured his grief, as he carried the joy of love. In connection with this pagan legend, perhaps, a Christian legend arose about the origin of lily of the valley from burning tears Holy Mother of God at the cross of her crucified son.

The Celts believed that this is nothing more and nothing less than the treasures of the elves. According to their legend, young hunters, having set up an ambush on wild animals in the forest thicket, saw an elf flying with a heavy load in his hands, and tracked his path. It turned out that he was carrying a pearl to a mountain of pearls, which stood under an old spreading tree. Unable to resist the temptation, one of the hunters decided to take a tiny mother-of-pearl ball, but when he touched it, the mountain of treasures crumbled. People rushed to collect pearls, forgetting about precautions, and the elven king flew in to the noise of their fuss, turning all the pearls into fragrant white flowers. And since then, the elves take revenge on greedy people for the loss of their treasure, and they love lilies of the valley so much that each time they rub them with napkins woven from moonlight ...

Lilies of the valley belong to shade-tolerant plants, therefore they grow well in forests. Often lily of the valley clumps are found in glades and forest edges. Sometimes its flowers can be seen in meadows.

In natural conditions, lilies of the valley are found almost throughout Europe, in the Caucasus, in China, in Asia Minor and on the North American continent. In Russia, wild lilies of the valley are found in the forests of the European part of the country, as well as in the vastness of Siberia and the Far East.

The plant has several unusual view... The fragile, looking peduncle has a row of flower buds that begin to open from below. Thus, the lower flowers are already open, and the upper ones are just about to bloom. Bees and bumblebees actively fly to the flowers of lilies of the valley to collect the first spring nectar, and at the same time pollinate the flowers. Later, in the place of the pollinated flower, a fruit grows, at first green, and when ripe, orange-red. Ripe fruits of the lily of the valley are eaten by birds with pleasure, thus the seeds of the lily of the valley are spread far from the mother plant. The color of the ripe fruits of the lily of the valley is also reflected in the legend, according to which, the lily of the valley was so sad for the outgoing spring that the blood that came out of his grieving heart turned his tears red.

The aerial part of the lily of the valley consists of a peduncle and two hard large leaves, and in the soil there are long thin rhizomes that contain nutrientsnecessary for the plant for active development and flowering in early spring.

Although the plant is poisonous, it also has medicinal properties... The pharmaceutical industry uses lily of the valley leaves and flowers to make medicines that regulate heart function and reduce nervous excitement.

Due to the small amount of the active substance, the natural components of lily of the valley are not used in the perfumery and cosmetic industry. For the manufacture of cosmetics, artificially synthesized substances with the smell of lily of the valley are used.

Lilies of the valley take root well on personal plot... Wild lilies of the valley are great for growing in the garden. To receive planting material it is necessary in early autumn to come to the forest and among the bushes and tree trunks to find a plant with yellowed wide leaves hanging from a strong low stem. Lilies of the valley must be dug out carefully, together with a clod of earth. Young peripheral roots remain in the ground, from which new plants can later grow. Returning home, a lump of earth with rhizomes of lilies of the valley is added in the garden, so that the plants are in light partial shade during the summer.

In addition to growing on the street, many growers grow lilies of the valley as houseplants... Planting is carried out in the fall. For growing in the room, rhizomes with well-formed two- or three-year shoots are selected. Selected rhizomes are planted in wide, low pots filled with forest soil; it is advisable to add a little sand to the mixture. The plants are planted for two or three weeks, watered several times, and then the pots with lilies of the valley are transferred to a cool, darkened room. At the end of January, the pots are transferred to a warm room and placed on the windowsills, protecting the plants from direct sun rays... Lilies of the valley are occasionally watered, preventing the soil from drying out. In a few weeks you will be able to admire the fragrant flowers, despite the frost and blizzard outside the window. In addition, lily of the valley flowers fill the air in the room with phytoncides that have a tonic effect on nervous system of people. A person breathing air with such phytoncides improves mood, and increases efficiency.

Fragile, dressed in soft white, and sometimes pale pink petals, lilies of the valley intoxicate everyone with a drunken scent. Rare of their kind, they are listed in the Red Book.

Beautiful lilies of the valley become a kind of muse for florists, artists are inspired to create still lifes, photographers for a new type of photography - professional flower photography. Spirits, pets, household appliances, cafes and restaurants.

Photos of lilies of the valley, roses and daffodils on the windows of flower shops are especially popular. They are widely used in perfumery.

Short story

They are also popularly known as: konvalia, may and field lily, maevka, cherry.
The plants owe their name to the works of the outstanding botanist Karl Linnaeus. The literal translation of the flower is "lily growing in the valley."

There are several origins. According to one of them, the name is borrowed from the Polish word "lanuszka" because of the similarity of the leaves with the ends of a wild fallow deer. In another way, it is the copulation of the two words "incense" and "breathe" because of the pungent and fragrant aroma.

Lily of the valley is a forest perennial plant that grows in the Northern Hemisphere. Most commonly found in cool or humid locations.

Walking through the forest, sometimes you can come across whole glades of lily of the valley leaves, but the bells themselves are not visible. The whole reason is that the maximum life span of the rhizome is up to 21 years.

Bloom

The first flowering occurs at 7-8 years old, at 10-12 years old they lose this opportunity. New dark green leaves are formed every spring, the ability to bloom appears in 2-3 years.

The powerful smell and pollen attract bees and bumblebees. The fruit of the flower is a round orange or red berry. The plant itself is poisonous, but it is widely used in modern medicine. Used since ancient times.

Growing and propagating lily of the valley should be done very carefully in compliance with normal safety measures.

Application in medicine

improved heart function
strengthening of blood vessels
insomnia and neuroses
is part of drugs for allergies
at high temperature and headaches
for the treatment of cholecystitis and the removal of inflammatory processes
psychiatric disorders

Taking medications based on a medicinal flower only after consulting a doctor and strictly observing the dosage.

Back sides of blooming lilies of the valley

A bouquet of lilies of the valley should not be kept in a small, cramped and closed room. Especially in a bedroom or a small child's room. Lovers of this plant often need to ventilate the room. Because of the strong aroma, you can simply poison yourself.

Poisoning symptoms

headache and frequent dizziness, up to and including loss of consciousness
nausea and vomiting
drowsiness and general malaise
tearing and the first signs of allergies
darkening in the eyes
cramps and numbness of the limbs
temperature rise and pressure surges

Noticing the first symptoms, he will urgently seek medical help, since the consequence can be fatal.

Before the arrival of doctors:

throw away the flowers, with water or a solution of potassium permanganate, cause a gag reflex and clear the stomach;
drink any sorbent ( activated carbon, sorbex) a drug for cleaning the body from the inside;
put an enema until clean water is completely released.

The smell of a forest dweller is fresh, with a tart aftertaste, with a barely noticeable note of tenderness. It goes well with jasmine, lily and wild roses.

We easily find it in the forest because of its strong aroma; it usually grows in groups or in whole glades.

Lily of the valley care

Lily of the valley adapts well to any weather conditions... But it does not tolerate drafts and direct sunlight.

It is very easy to plant a flower at home. Planting lilies of the valley can be done using their own berries or by dividing the rhizome. Artificial breeding of new varieties is actively used.

The downside is low frost resistance and late flowering. In the first case, after 6 years, in the second, after 3 years.

The best period for planting is mid-autumn. The land is prepared in advance, fertilizers can be used. Each mistress sits in her own way, but in in general terms you need to plant each flower at a distance of 10-15 cm, 15 cm deep into the ground and sprinkle with light earth 1-2 cm.

Pour thoroughly with water at room temperature. In winter, cover with any material to keep warm. Planting can also be done in the spring, but such a flower will be painful and will not bloom in the current season.

They do not need care. You just need to maintain moisture, remove weeds and from time to time loosen the ground around.

Lilies of the valley are very aggressive plants, in the general bouquet displaces and leads to rapid wilting, death of other flowers.

Fertilizers

The first fertilization is carried out at planting, you can use the eggshell;
Second, 30 days after planting, a good rotted organic matter is introduced;
At 2 and 3 years of age, organic fertilizers with a small amount of nitrogen;
Later, each June, feed for enlargement and growth.

Photo of lily of the valley

Delicate lilies of the valley have long been considered a symbol of spring. In May, wonderful flowers appear in the forests, resembling a placer of snow-white pearls - lilies of the valley. They grow on the edges mixed forestforming entire carpets of thickets. They are not only perfect for their beauty, but also have a dizzying scent of spring.

This beautiful May flower has managed to win the hearts of many nations thanks to its bells with the most delicate aroma. Wide green leaves resemble deer ears and probably from here its name "landushka" came from. This, translated from Old Polish, means the ear of a deer.

It is also believed that the name comes from the church incense incense. When burned, it gives off an aroma reminiscent of lily of the valley.

It's perennial herbaceous plantpropagating by the root. Its roots are not thick and creeping. Leaves in the amount of two pieces grow from a root rosette and are shaped like a deer's ear. Between them is a bud, from which a sprout grows and bells are formed, and then berries.

The stems are erect and die off in early summer, as soon as the flowers stop blooming. On one stem, there are on average 14 bells with a delicate aroma. The color of the bells varies from white to pale pink. Lilies of the valley are very strong flowers that easily conquer new shady areas. Temperature drops are not terrible for him. The flowering stem itself is leafless.

Lily of the valley blooms in May and continues to delight the world about a month. After flowering, small red berries appear on the stem, which serve as a delicacy for the birds living in the neighborhood. The fruit is a round red berry, about 7 mm in diameter, filled with round seeds.

On the flower beds, a carpet of lily of the valley leaves looks great, but when this carpet is covered with white flowers, it seems that fairies live in some of the bells.

Exists different kinds lilies of the valley growing within Russia:

Transcaucasian.
May.
Keiskei.
Silver.
Pink.

All this variety is used energetically in medicine. Lilies of the valley quickly spread throughout Europe and won the hearts of people so much that people not only collected bouquets, but also used it in the treatment of heart and other diseases. Deforestation also led to the disappearance of flowers, and in fact the flower does not grow in the bright sun.

Lilies of the valley began to disappear from the surrounding forests, and were soon included in the "Red Book". There is such a belief that if you pluck one flower from a common blooming carpet, then after some time all the others will disappear.

In order not to annually pick lily of the valley flowers in the forest, people began to grow them in their flower beds. After all, this does not require any main course, the main thing is not to dig up this section. The secret is to choose the right spot in the flower garden.

The best place is in the shade of trees with slightly damp soil. The key to the long flowering of lilies of the valley is coolness and shade.

In a couple of years, the roots will spread so much that this place will no longer be enough for flowers, and it will claim new territory.

The plant lives in one place for about 10 years, so you need to prepare mail rich in organic matter. To do this, it is necessary to fertilize with already rotted manure and dig up the flower bed to a depth of 25 cm. In such good conditions, the plant will live for a very long time. After that, planting rhizomes will need to be updated so as not to lose the flower. Soil preparation must be carried out one year before transplanting the rhizomes of the lily of the valley.

It is best to plant in September or April in order for it to take root well. It is not advisable to do a transplant in the summer, since during the heat it can die. After planting, the rhizome must be watered vigorously until the plant is accepted.

There are two options for breeding lily of the valley:

seed method;
root way.

The second way is to grow faster and more conveniently. To do this, a rhizome is dug out and cut into pieces about 10 cm long. The main thing is that there is a growth bud on this segment. Fold the chopped pieces of rhizomes into pre-dug grooves to a depth of about 3 cm and dig in with earth without trampling it.

Do not plant the shoots too close to each other at the very beginning, because due to the density, new shoots can be affected by gray rot.

When propagated by seeds, sprouts will appear only in the second year, if the seeds are not collected by birds or mice. These will be tightly pulled leaves and no flowering. In the second spring, the rhizome will grow and only in the third year will flowers appear.

Caring for lilies of the valley is not difficult at all. In the summer heat, they are watered, preventing the earth from drying out. The plant is frost-resistant and therefore should not be additionally covered. It adjoins well in flower beds with lungwort and fern.

Diseases and pests

Lily of the valley can be affected by fungal diseases. It can also be exposed to nematodes and sawflies. Remove diseased plants from the flower bed and burn them outside of your area. Treat the remaining plants with special preparations sold in garden centers.

Lily of the valley is also known as a forcing plant. In order to drive out the plant, rhizomes are dug up in September and put into storage, put in a box and sprinkled with peat. Store in a cool place at temperatures ranging from -3 to +5 degrees.

In early December, they are planted in boxes or pots in pre-prepared loose, fertile soil. Pots with planted rhizomes are placed in a room with a temperature of up to 24 degrees Celsius and watered a little. A month later, the lily of the valley begins to sprout, and in February it begins to bloom.

Lilies of the valley - medicinal properties

Since the time of Copernicus, lily of the valley has been considered an excellent medicinal plant, and thanks to this it has become a symbol of healing.

Do not forget that lilies of the valley are a medicinal plant that helps people get rid of diseases such as:

diseases of the nervous system;
arrhythmias;
cardiovascular diseases;
fever;
physical stress;
rheumatism;
headache.

People with diseases of the stomach, kidneys and liver, extracts from this medicinal plant cannot be accepted. For them, it will be tantamount to taking poison. After all, a beautiful flower with an unforgettable aroma can be poisonous for a person. Therefore, it is impossible in any case to make decoctions without a doctor's prescription.

If you need to collect this plant, then this cannot be done in the city. Since gasoline vapors and other chemical substances the plant will not be suitable for use in medicinal purposes... Therefore, these plants are collected in forests far from megacities.

This plant is harvested during flowering, cutting off with scissors near the rhizome so as not to damage it. For medicinal purposes, everything is collected: leaves, flowers, and berries. All this is collected in May, early summer, while the lilies of the valley are blooming and the leaves are in the juice itself.

Drying is done in the shade with good ventilation. Drying is also carried out in special drying cabinets, where the temperature is set to 60 degrees. Medicines can be prepared from only plucked lily of the valley flowers.

Lily of the valley tincture

We fill any container three-fourths with plucked flowers and add 90% alcohol. All this is infused in a cool dark place for 3 weeks. It is taken 20 drops five times a day.

Tincture of dried lily of the valley flowers

1 tbsp dry flowers pour 200 gr. boiling water, wrap and let it brew for half an hour. Take one tablespoon every 2 hours. This drug is excellent for conjunctivitis.

If the heart rhythm is disturbed

Mix valerian 10 ml, lily of the valley tincture 10 ml, hawthorn extract 5 ml. and menthol 0.05 ml. applied 25 drops three times a day.

Pharmacies also sell preparations made with lily of the valley:

zelenin drops;
various cardiotonic drugs;
the drug "Konvaflavin".

But we must remember that lily of the valley is poisonous and its overdose threatens with poisoning. And when using drugs, you must strictly adhere to the recommendations given by your doctor.

Toning face mask

Grind 2 tablespoons of red berries, add one yolk there. Apply the resulting mask to the face, after 15 minutes it will be necessary to wash it off with warm water and wipe it off with a warm napkin dipped in milk. Making masks weekly, after a month and a half, fine wrinkles will be smoothed out and the complexion will noticeably improve.

The scent of lilies of the valley is used in the preparation of perfumes, soaps, shampoos. Extract from flower buds is difficult to obtain, so for the perfumery industry, the smell was removed chemically.
In Russian legends, the flowers of the lily of the valley are called the tears of the sea princess Volkhov. She, who fell in love with the beautiful guslar Sadko, who did not reciprocate her feelings, and therefore alone at night shed tears of her lonely love, which by morning turned into wonderful lily of the valley flowers.
There are also legends that when the first mermaid fell in love, her laughter scattered like white pearls across the meadow near the lake.
Many people remember from childhood the tale of Snow White, how she, running away from her stepmother, scattered her pearl necklace. And they turned into white lilies of the valley. And now they work as flashlights for little gnomes.
And also in these bells sunbeams spend the night.
Lilies of the valley are often used to make wedding bouquets - after all, this is a symbol of untouched purity.

In order to enjoy the lilies of the valley and escape from daily difficulties, it is not necessary to go to the forest and pick flowers, breaking their ideal meadows. It is better to plant them in your flower garden and admire this miracle of nature every year.

With the help of a bouquet of these flowers, you can always confess your pure love for a person and it would be good to do this on May 1, because in France this day is celebrated the day of lily of the valley and spring.

How to pick lilies of the valley and keep the bouquet fresh?

It is generally accepted that lilies of the valley are the most fragrant spring flowers. They are listed in the Red Book. But, finding himself in the May forest, to be honest, hardly anyone can refrain from picking a bunch.

As experts say, damage to lilies of the valley can only be caused by improper collection of the flower itself. To prevent the plant from dying, you should carefully pull out the flower itself without leaves from its middle and try not to damage the rhizome. Rough forest felling, caterpillars of tractors and uncleared branches harm the spread of this unique in beauty and aroma plant much more.

Lily of the valley tends to grow rapidly, and those gardeners who decide to grow it need to remember this. For several years, the plant can fill a significant part of the garden. Now among flower growers, the cultivation of terry and pink lilies of the valley has become widespread. But most connoisseurs of the plant are nevertheless closer to a pure, white, porcelain color.

You should know that the fruits of the lily of the valley, which appear at the end of summer, are very poisonous. They look attractive, so children should be warned about the dangers of using them.

Silver lily of the valley grew at the edge.
White bell of delicate beauty.
A small gift from Spring - girlfriends -
Modest flowers are on the green carpet.

The light wind will touch the bells tenderly,
They will ring with cheerful music.
And the birds will catch the song diligently
Festive Orchestra of the Maidens - Spring.

May lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) how many gentle smiles this flower evokes. And he has many names, here are some: vannik, smoothysh, convallia, hare ears, forest tongue. Lily of the valley belongs to the lily family. Latin name lily of the valley literally means "lily of the valleys blooming in May."

A beautiful spring flower, many poetic legends have been written about its origin. An old Russian legend tells of the hopeless love of the water princess Volkhov for the daring Sadko. Learning about his faithful love for a simple girl Lyubava, she went ashore to last time listen to songs and playing the harp of your loved one. For a long time Volkhova walked through the meadows and forest edges, but Sadko was nowhere to be found. Suddenly she saw two among the slender birches - they are Sadko and Lyubava. The proud princess wept with grief, bitter tears rolled from her blue, like the sea, eyes. They fell like pearls into the grass and turned into fragrant silvery flowers - a symbol of loyalty, love and tenderness. Unhappy with grief, Volkhova forever went to her cold underwater kingdom.

IN Ancient Greece there was a myth that told how once the goddess of the Hunt Diana, sister of the radiant Apollo, hunted in an unfamiliar forest inhabited by fauns. Seduced by the girl's beauty, they began to pursue her. The slender hunter Diana ran away from them, but she had to run too far and quickly, she was tired, her whole body was covered with drops of sweat, which, falling to the ground, turned into fragrant silvery lily of the valley bells.

Oh first lily of the valley! From under the snow
You ask for the sun's rays;
What a virgin bliss
In your fragrant purity!
As the first ray of spring is bright!
What dreams descend in him!
How captivating you are, gift
Incendiary spring!
So the maiden sighs for the first time -
About what - it is not clear to herself, -
And a timid sigh smells sweet
Excessive young life.

(A. Fet)

The peoples Western Europe lilies of the valley are the dwellings of little forest men - elves, and the necklace of Snow White, who, fleeing from her evil stepmother in winter, lost it in the forest, and it turned into silvery bells. According to other legends, these are the lanterns of the gnomes

Long, long time ago, elves lived, lived in a dense forest. People hoard gold, and elves hoarded their wealth - white pearls. Once in the forest kingdom of the elves, hunters wandered. They lay down to rest and see an elf with a pearl flying somewhere. The hunters followed him and saw a large mountain of wealth. The hunters rushed to grab him, and the whole mountain fell apart. Pearls rolled through the forest in different directions. But the chief wizard elf did not want people to get this wealth, and turned the beads into white flowers, into lilies of the valley. Since then, elves have taken care of flowers, polishing the leaves of flowers with a cloth woven from moonlight to shine.

Since the deep Middle Ages, the "holiday of lilies of the valley" has been preserved in France. It is celebrated on the first Sunday in May. The day before, in the afternoon, the villagers go to the nearest forest for lilies of the valley. Having collected bouquets, they return home in the evening. The next morning, collected lilies of the valley decorate rooms, windows and even doors. After a cheerful breakfast, dancing is organized. Each dancer has a bunch of lilies of the valley, Girls pin it to the corsage, boys - in the buttonholes of frock coats. Young people who like each other exchange bouquets.

The flowering of lily of the valley coincides with that time of spring, when it gradually turns into summer, and by the middle of summer, red drops of fruit are formed on it. On this occasion, there is such a legend. When the lily of the valley blossomed, he saw Spring. She was so beautiful that the lily of the valley immediately fell in love with her and, no matter how much he looked, he could not enjoy her beauty. Yes, and Vesna herself was not indifferent to a small, elegantly dressed flower, hiding under a wide green umbrella. But Spring is a traveler around the world, she smiles at everyone, gives everyone affection, but does not stay long anywhere.

All problems with winter
so easily settled
will rise like diadems,
my forest lilies of the valley ...

Silvery white
shod in pointe shoes,
fragile, timid
in dew like diamonds.

And all the ravines, slopes
dress up unexpectedly
in green nylons,
and into the stalks - fountains,

Secluded streams,
in pebbles and pellets
the languid
porcelain lilies of the valley ...

Under the smells of the forest,
the burden falls off the soul!
Oh, intoxicating lilies of the valley,
your time has come ...