Delicate, demure and dainty – lilies of the valley are one of the most welcome signs of late spring.
Growing close to the ground in woodland settings, they beckon quietly. Come closer...
Ah, that wonderful fragrance. Surprisingly powerful, given the diminutive nature of the waxy flower that produces it.
The little bells are described as “tepals”, which was a new word for me; it’s apparently used when the petal and sepal (the centre bit) are indistinguishable.
They’re also highly poisonous, which I did know from my murder mystery habit; Agatha Christie was the queen of murder by poison, and lily of the valley has been the star poison in more contemporary gardening “cozies”, too.
It has more illustrious admirers: it was Christian Dior’s favourite flower, and both Princess Grace of Monaco and The Duchess of Cambridge chose lily of the valley for their bridal bouquets.
With all the damp weather, lily of the valley has provided a prolific display this year. I made it to the Cape just in time to catch the end of the show and rushed to set a couple of tables before – poufff – they were gone.
Andrea, by Sadek, produced Lily of the Valley sometime in the past. That’s all I know about the pattern.
I found three lonely salad plates on eBay, and a while ago, a dozen dinner sized plates changed hands through Ruby Lane Antiques.
Replacements have no stock. So we wait and see if anything else springs up!
Isn’t it a great pattern, though? The combination of the strong geometric lines and the graceful curves of the flower really appeals.
Antique Venetian glasses with turquoise rigerie joined in as both juice/water glasses and vases.
Having used turquoise in the glasses and placemats, I picked up the black in the rim of the Nocturne by Royal Prestige dinner plate and the Twig cutlery from World Market.
The open geometric pattern of the napkin tied in with the turquoise framework on the salad plate.
The little gilded open salts snuggled right in beside turquoise glass jars from Pottery Barn about a decade ago.
Such a happy table.
The flowers were just on the edge of their best-before date. By the following morning, they had moved to the goldish-transparent phase and had to be tossed. Sniff, sniff. The lilacs are over, the lilies of the valley have finished. Thank goodness for photographs.
But the irises are in their full glory and the peonies are about to burst into bloom. Woot! Floral abundance is the very best part of June. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Oh, how I love those flowers! They were a favorite of my mother’s, too. Such a sweet fragrance. Those plates are really striking and make such a pretty table setting. I’m glad you could enjoy the flowers for a little while.
Thanks, Joy. Spring flowers seem to have the best fragrance, don’t they? Lilacs, lily of the valley, daffodils; you don’t often hear someone extolling the virtues of a chrysanthemum’s scent, for instance. Lol!
Dear Helen,
Love love love this black/blue/green/white setting, and also the Chinoiserie on the plates…(which is a funny combination, because convallaria isn’t a Chinese plant). I’m getting to like black on the table lately. So you’re the one who snapped up those three salads! They were surprisingly cheap for so pretty a pattern. I wonder about those serviettes, though…something about that blue is not quite right for me. On the other hand, the glasses are divine.
I was meaning to snag some C. rosa pips this spring, but I left it too late, and they sold out. They make a perfect shady-spot ground cover. Your cool start to summer must have retarded them, because ours are long bloomed out. We are already awash in perfumed flamboyant bearded (germanica) iris in several colours, and we await the bursting of peonies next week. Ain’t spring grand (when it finally comes)?
I thought it was an odd combination, too, Beatrice, but I liked it. Something about the contrast of the strong lines of the Chinoiserie and the delicate curves of the lily of the valley. Sadek isn’t a particularly renowned producer, and I was surprised that the dinner plates traded hands through Ruby Lane Antiques.
Our peonies have burst into bloom this week, so it looks like our seasons have finally caught up. I got the cages and velcro tape in place just in time. Truth be told, hubby did most of it. 🙂 And the irises are spectacular. Spring is indeed grand. Let us enjoy it while it lasts.
Love this pretty table setting! Those plates are beautiful!
Thanks, Beth. I hope to track down more of them through time. Three is a lonely number.
Lily of the Valley was my Grandmother’s wedding bouquet in Minnesota 1920. Mom always had a shaded patch growing in Spring and so do I. Did you ever see Sterling silver lily of the valley pattern by Tiffany & Co.? Fit for royalty.
I am eagerly looking forward to lily of the valley season. Oh – you really know it’s spring when they appear! Can’t come too soon, can it?
That is a lovely flatware pattern, yes!
Lily of the Valley sterling pattern from Whiting Manufacturing Co. makes my heart go pitter patter. Most have engraved monograms. I learned that the bride uses her maiden name monogram on the silver. Cool, huh?!
Yes – “monogram etiquette” is fascinating. Well known to Southern women, I understand.
I learned about it from Miss Manners newspaper column. Back in old days when we got a paper rather than read online.
My husband is a paper reading material guy – loves the tactile sense. I’m more of an online gal – I can adjust the type size, which is so important with challenging eyesight. Getting old is not for sissies, as they say. I also like the portability of having books at my fingertips wherever we are!