Google the word “lily,” and you’ll get over 13 million results in seconds. Perhaps, slightly more overwhelming is the fact that “lily” refers to over 100 species of flowers, and that some of the most recognizable examples of what we think of when we think of lilies, such as the ever popular calla lily, are not lilies at all. Regardless, what’s in a name has never rung more true than in the case of the lily. The word lily often inspires images of purity, elegance, and life. Lilies are often included in wedding arrangements, and more often than not are also a part of funerals and memorials.

This interesting cyclic role that lilies play in our lives speaks volumes of the way that we interact with the world. We celebrate life with beauty, whether it is a beginning-like a wedding-or an end-like a funeral. The Easter lily is a magnificent example of the juxtaposition of life and death that the lily represents. According to tradition, these lilies sprung from the ground where drops of Christ’s blood fell. Christian churches continue to use the popular flower en masse for alter adornment during Easter to commemorate Christ Jesus’ sacrifice, where from death there was the promise of new life. In Christian tradition, the lily is also seen as a symbol of the Annunciation and the Virgin Mary.

While the Easter lily has a beautiful story attached to it that serves as a reminder of the cyclic nature of life, less told is how the Easter lily is also a commercial success story. Prior to World War II, the majority of Easter lily bulbs were shipped to the U.S. from Japan, where the bloom is native. Today, over 95% of all bulbs grown and sold for the Easter lily market in the U.S. are produced in the country, most coming from the west coast.

These beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers are wonderfully fragrant and, cared for properly, can become an addition to your permanent garden. If you are choosing living plants to give as gifts this holiday season, it is important to follow a few easy tips to ensure that your gift will last into the next year and beyond. Plants that boast flowers and buds in various stages of development ensure that your recipient can enjoy more flowering time. While it’s easy to focus on the blooms as the sole requirement for which plant you choose, it is important to look at the foliage. It should be dense and be a uniform, deep color, indicating the plant’s health. By this same token, be sure to check for chewed leaves, wilting, dark spots, or signs of insects.

If you receive an Easter lily, first of all, lucky you! After you’ve congratulated yourself on your coup, take care to continue watering your lily when the soil becomes dry to the touch. Indoors, lilies enjoy bright, but indirect sunlight and cool locations (avoid placing near fireplaces, heaters, and appliances). Remove the flowers when they wither and after they have all been removed from the plant and the danger of frost has passed, plant your lily bulb to the same depth as it was in the pot. When the original stem and leaves start to brown, cut down to the healthy, green part of the plant. You may add fertilizer of mulch to keep your bulbs well insulated and fed throughout the winter. Finally, be patient! It will take a year or two for your lily to establish itself, but once it does, you will have a beautiful new addition to your outdoor garden.

Do you need to know where to find the best quality wholesale lilies? Bloomsxpress.com has top quality wholesale flowers for all occasions at low prices.

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