Recently our house has been filled with flowers, both inside and out. Blooms are abundant and the scent of spring and summer lingers on the hot sticky air—the seasons are changing, if ever so slightly in our sunshine state. The change in weather has the plants going crazy and soon the rain will play its role as well. I guess you could say that I am flower crazy lately, snapping photos of colorful blooms and burying my face in petals that I come across. Not too long ago I fell in love with the Don Juan Rose, but watch out folks, there is a new love in my life—the Sumatra Lily. My eyes have never seen such deep rich colors and the scent is amazingly aromatic, floating delicately throughout the house.  Why does this flower have me so enchanted?

For starters, this flower has popped up in literature across the ages. According to a garden blog, lily flowers have been featured in Greek poetry signifying tenderness and it was also supposedly the voice of muses. There is even a possible Greek myth that says the lily was born from the milk of the goddess Hera.

After more research, I found that the first description of lily flowers can be traced to the Chinese Middle Ages where the plants would blossom in late autumn and showed spectacular colors of red, purple and yellow, according to Ask.com.  As usual, nature heals and the lily flower is no exception.  In China, lilies were highlighted for having anti-toxic properties and the ability to cure depression.  In Europe, they were used to cure many sicknesses and diseases; however they are poisonous to cats.

 Not only do these flowers provide physical health benefits, they also ease the mind.  Feng Shui believers suggest that lilies are a symbol of summer and abundance, having a relaxing influence on those exposed to the colors and scent. Perhaps that is why I have been sleeping so soundly lately, the lilies have infiltrated my senses.

Karey Burek Photo SUMATRA LILIES

 

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