Ages ago, when I was in my late teens, I walked down a sidewalk along a tall wooden fence. I smelled the most heavenly scent and had to know what produced it. I boosted myself up to peer over the top and spread below me was a huge carpet of lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). I pledged then and there that some day I would have the same.
Today, I have several of my own carpets of lily of the valley, which continue to increase annually. I let it run wild, delighted with its sweet scent for the short time it is in bloom. I fill vases and tuck them all over the house. I fall asleep in a cloud of its deliciousness.
The small creamer pitcher is English Royal Crown Derby, an heirloom once belonging to my mother-in-law.
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In the Garden, who hosts a weekly meme to showcase arrangements created from our gardens. Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week.
Eliza Waters 
Magnifique! 😀
Merci!
Wow! Beautiful. I know they are divine. So pretty and fragrant, yet so poisonous, they have always kind of scared me. Any unknowing creature that eats them will die.
Thank you, Cindy. I’ve never had a pet incident with them, I guess I rely on divine good sense in that area. It’s a bit of a beauty/beast story, isn’t it?
Sounds intoxicatingly divine – enjoying your descriptive prose Eliza. What a feast for the senses 😊
Thank you very much, Liz, much appreciated!
I enjoy that this Monday’s vase has such an interesting back story, from the container to the flowers!
Thank you, Anne. LOV has a way of capturing memories!
Reblogged this on Purplerays and commented:
My first love? Nature. I couldn’t live without my daily immersion, walking in the woods, visiting our waterfall or sitting by the river watching the birds going about their business. It is where I connect to the “peace which passes all understanding.” ~ Eliza Waters
Thank you for reblogging – much appreciated!
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
Thank you for reblogging!
Beautiful flowers, amazing perfume, and the vase is delightful too…
Thank you kindly. 🙂
Reblogged this on Sun in Gemini.
Thank you for reblogging!
My pleasure, Eliza. It was a lovely post.
🙂
A lovely post 😎
Thank you, Steve.
As always – a superb container
Thank you, Derrick.
It is amazing how wonderful they smell. We had a large patch in the front yard, when I was 10, I have 2 large & ever expanding …. patches & along the northside of this house. Walked into a forest, for a walk, last week and could smell them before we got to where the pink kind are growing…mixed in with Myrtle…so pretty. Enjoyment! Do you have the sugar-bowl to match, Eliza?
Yes, I do have the matching sugar bowl. 🙂 Your forest walk sounds lovely with pink LOV and blue myrtle.
I have some in bloom so you have reminded me I need to bring some in if I’m going to enjoy that gorgeous fragrance.. 🙂
Yes! 🙂
One of my favorite plants, Eliza, with many childhood memories. Your photo of them in the vase is gorgeous; sadly, mine are already done blooming for the season.
Thank you, Lynn, it is a plant that grabs and holds warm memories.
That vase is utterly perfect for those little beauties. I have always loved lilies of the valley, but need to figure out a dog-safe place to plant them here. Right now both pups will eat just about anything growing and I don’t want to have to worry about a little lily grazing.
Thank you, Brenda. Maybe you could fence in a little area in the shade at the edge of the yard? The garden fence I saw was solid, the corner triangle held the scent, therefore intensifying it. Maybe a little solid 2-sided triangle, with picket on the third? It would have to look like it belonged, but worthy of the challenge, I’d say! 🙂
Yes, I will have to give it some thought but should be able to work something out. Definitely worthy of the challenge!
Agreed! I can send you some bare roots to start you off. 🙂
That would be wonderful. But I suspect it will be next year before I figure this one out. I am thinking of starting to plant some shade-loving flowers then and will have to fit these in a safe corner somehow!
The offer remains until you are ready. 🙂
Lovely little flowers, so fragrant, and I agree with Brenda. That vase is utterly perfect.
Thank you, Laurie!
So beautiful but so deadly and yet they are grown in many gardens and brides have them in their bouquets. They smell divine but all parts of the plant and berries are poisionous…
So I’m told. I haven’t thought of it beyond its fragrance. I don’t have livestock, so I guess it never came up.
I share your love of the sweet fragrance of this old favorite flower and imagine your home smells heavenly right now! The cream pitcher is indeed the perfect vessel for these and makes the arrangement a delightful nostalgic feel. Love the story about your peeking-over-the-fence discovery of these darling flowers.
Thank you very much, Peter. This, along with lilac and peonies, are my absolute favorite flowers. Such a gift from nature!
Wonderful arrangement Eliza. As per your usual, another perfect bouquet / vase pairing. When I was a little girl, my grandmother on my father’s side had a patch of Lily-of-the-Valley and I also fell in love.
Thank you, Kathy. The delicious smell fixes it firmly to our memories it seems. 🙂
I adore that scent, back in new york, had a full carpet of it….such a shame it blooms for so short a time 🙂 lovely pics too Eliza ❤
Thank you, Kim. The memory of the scent does linger!
Perfection! Wonderful post and beautiful arrangement.
Thank you, Leanne!
Omygosh Eliza I love, love, LOVE Lily of the Valley! ❤ My little "carpet" of them is blooming now too, it smells sooo delicious! I adore the pitcher you placed these in, just perfect! 🙂
Thank you very much, Julie! ❤
What a great image, that ” cloud of deliciousness” ! Sweet dreams are assured.
Yes, indeed. Thanks, Albert!
Simple and beautiful – I love this vase.
Thank you, Sarah!
Wonderful flowers, beautifully presented, Eliza. They grew outside my bedroom window in our neglected back garden when I was a child. My current garden is well out of their range – such a pity!
Thank you, Kris. Caswell-Massey makes LOV soap and lotion that captures the scent perfectly…just in case you need a fix. 😉
Thanks for the link Eliza, and yes it is the most wonderful scent in the world. I have a little patch too and find it delightful every May. Beautiful photos, and love that pitcher 🙂
Thank you, Agnes!
So simple yet so effective!
Thank you. It really is!
Mmm, how wonderful to have a carpet of them! I managed just one small jugful this year and that was heavenly too. Your jug is so pretty and so ‘right’ for these flowers! 🙂
Thank you, Cathy. The scent is simply the best!
Aww fabulous, you can’t beat it. That’s a great story. I tucked in a few roots last year and got three sprays so maybe a few more years before I get a carpet! The just is so very pretty.
Thank you, Alison. Your patch will spread!
Absolutely delightful, Eliza – but hearing they are poisonous is new to me…
Same here, a bit of a surprise, I’ve never had a issue with them. My love is unabated!
Takes my breath away Eliza!!
🙂 Hopefully, for not too long! 😉
These can scent a whole house! I picked a vase of them a few weeks ago and enjoyed it immensely. Mine wasn’t as nice a vase as yours!
The vessel matters not, the scent is what it is all about – and how blissful it is! 🙂
OMG…I LOVE this little plant. Mine is done blooming but it is a fragrant little plant. I love that vase and the plant..great combo!!!! It is my birthday flower-I am so blessed:-)
Thank you, Robbie. Happy belated birthday!
The pitcher and lily of the valley just go so well together.
Thank you, Brian. Their colors match exactly. 🙂
Perfectly displayed Lily of the Valley. Really wishing for a fragrance app right about now.
Thank you, Amelia. I know, wouldn’t that be great to have? It’d help me get through winter much more easily. 😉
The lilies and pitcher were made for each other. Just lovely!
Thank you, Belinda!
My mother grew some in her backyard…wild, as you say. I love them and can almost smell them from here. Love your arrangement.
Thank you very much, Carolyn!
Sweet to see, and so simple. Wish I could catch a bit of the fragrance.
Thanks, Micheal. We need a view and sniff app! 😉
Lovely bouquets, Eliza! And I loved your story about them. I just saw a few new blooms while walking in the woods this morning. I didn’t know what they were, so I’m glad you named them for me. I will have to go back when all the flowers have bloomed to enjoy their perfume. 🙂
Thanks, Myr! Their scent is intoxicating!