Thursday, May 29, 2008

My Lily of the Valley....it means so much....Day 25

Hi Everyone....

I had a few sketches on the go today....but when I went outside to play with our son Cole...I noticed that all my Lily of the Valley is in full bloom....

These plants mean so much to me....you see when I was a child I grew up with the most amazing parents...my Mom and I would garden on our property...we even had the coolest forest ever....in it we made a special garden when I was a wee little girl....we took rocks and made it in the shape of a heart...in it we planted Lily of the Valley....and when it was in bloom, my Mom would collect bunches and place them in these miniature vases....she placed one by my bed side and I would inhale the most amazing fragrance from these magical flowers....I would dream wonderful dreams all night long....and wake to that heavenly scent....even today ...each time I smell them I think of those wonderful memories....thanks Mom...

I sit here typing and this miniature vase of my Lily of the Valley fills the room with the most amazing scent...these plants are ones my Mother picked in that very forest and transplanted here on our property about 9 years ago....they mean so much to me.....my heart smiles when I smell them and think of how lucky I truly am.....

I think they are the main reason I collect miniature vases....what fun!

Hugs
Diana


17 comments:

Archie and Melissa said...

hi diana!
yet another connection we have. my grandma had lily of the valley all along the side of her house. we would collect and enjoy them too.
she was the most wonderful person and those memories mean so much to me too. they have been anchors for me throughout my life.
thank you so much for bringing up those wonderful thoughts for me.
XO
melissa

Anonymous said...

wonderful memories and it's amazing how certain scents can make you feel so good.

Unknown said...

Hi Melissa...wow...that is amazing....I can imagine how you enjoyed them and how special your Grandmother was to you...

life is such a wonderful gift....

and Lisa...

it is so true...certain scents take us right back to a moment in time....magical

Kathleen Rietz said...

OH!!! Diana, I love lily of the valley. And it makes me think of my mom every spring. She loved lily of the valley, and grew a whole bed of them under a shady pine next to our house. She once had this perfume which smelled just like the flowers, so when I smell their lovely scent I think of my mom, too. Little did I know when I bought my house 10 years ago that in the spring would sprout some lily of the valley! There are not a lot, but enough to collect a couple of small bouquets every spring and place in a little bud vase in my kitchen. Still makes me think of Mom.

NANCY LEFKO said...

my lily of the valley should be blooming soon too. they also remind me of childhood as there was a bed of them right under my bedroom window and the scent filled my room....it was wonderful...the plants in the lily bed I have now came from a friend's house, so they also mean a lot. thanks for the memories and the wonderful sketch !!

DeLi said...

i love the caption. i have a friend who calle me LiLi of the Lost Valley :-)

i love thsi flower too!

happy weekend diana :-)

Candace Trew Camling said...

Lily of the Valley are my favorite too. My mom has a ton behind her house, and she makes little bouquets too. I need to get some!
I can smell them just by looking at your pictures.

Lisa M Griffin said...

How beautiful and charming. I love this illustration and couldn't agree more. Lily of the Valley are the prettiest little flower with such a delightful smell. Just one sprig can fill a room! Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories and art.

Fannie said...

It warms my heart to hear your childhood stories. No wonder you have a special heart. You were loved by a mom who exhibited pure love. Nice, Diana. And the legacy continues . . .

Unknown said...

Hi Everyone....

thanks for all the lovely notes sharing your memories....I love hearing about your lives...

Amazing how these little white flowers can do so much with our memories....

Thank you again for popping by...
Hugs
Diana

marianne said...

Oh...........wonderful post! I also love lily of the valley! I have a few here in the garden , but they are not growing they way I see them sometimes. Some more patience................
Such a nice story!
These flowers were in my mother's wedding bouquet, hundreds of them,
I also have the fragrance Diorissimo by Dior. I love that smell.

soulbrush said...

and she has a wonderful daughter too...hugs and wfs

Cynthia DiBlasi - Fine Art said...

That is so sweet! I have lily of the valley in my garden too, my Aunt gave them to me when my Husband and I first bought our house. They are mixed in with other flowers, and tend to get overlooked. Now I will have a reason to pick them and think of you, and the special memory of you and your Mom! I don't think I've ever stopped to smell them!

Renee said...

Diana no wonder you are such a wonderful Mom.

This made me cry.

They are very pretty aren't they.

xoxoxoxo

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Diana,

Loved your post, it was lovely to hear of you and your Mother caring for the garden.
My Mother used to have lots of Lily of the Valley growing.
It is one of my favourite flowers, also my birth month flower.
The fragrance is so divine.

Hugs
Carolyn

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Diana,

What a beautiful post and happy memories you have shared here.
thank you again for this.
You are lucky to be able to grow the flower, my Mother used to in the town that I grew up ~ but unfortunately the weather does not get cold enough, where I live.
I might try another plant this year and see how they go.

Hugs
Carolyn

Lilac & Lavender said...

Diana, I am so glad you shared this post with me! After I found this postcard a few years back, I planted a few Lily of the Valley and they didn't grow... then last year, we happened to go visit my in-law's home, up near Toledo, OH, and I noticed a HUGE bed of them growing along the side of the house!! Unfortunately, I didn't get any on that trip, but I'm going to see if my mother-in-law could dig a few up for me now :)

 
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