In 1919, a WWI soldier, Louis Houghton, brought a suitcase full of hybrid lily bulbs to the southern coast of Oregon. He gave them to family and friends to plant. The climate was apparently ideal for growing the lily, which is native to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. By 1945, more than a thousand growers were producing bulbs for the commercial market. They have a sales window of only two weeks a year, but Easter lilies are the fourth largest potted plant crop in the U.S.
The lily in the photo above is in our yard. One Easter five or six years ago, we bought it and later planted in our yard. Even though Easter falls on a different day every year, this gorgeous lily blooms without failure every year during the Easter weekend.
In 2012, for instance, Easter fell a week later than it does this year, on April 8. In 2011, Easter fell three weeks later than this year, on April 24. But year after year, this lily blooms right on time. How does it know to do that? Is it Nature or magic or both? Or something else altogether?
Happy Easter to all of you!
Good to know, Darren! Thanks! I appreciate the humor and got a chucle from it! 🙂
Wonderful Easter yesterday. Regarding the lilies bing toxic to cats, I do hope Darren’s friend doesn’t plant those with the intent to KILL the cat!! Generally speaking most animals will stay away from plants that are poison for them, but not all do. Sometimes the animals are drawn to them, just as dogs are drawn to the odor of anti-freeze, which is deadly to them but tastes sweet to them. Anyway, everything here in the Sunshine State is beginning to blossom and bloom, and the butterflies are dancing no matter where we look. SPRING IS HERE! MAGICK! Hooray! Enough of the cold.
You don’t have to worry about my friend planting lillies in his backyard Connie.
When I suggested he plant lillies,he replied to my comment with this comment,
“I don’t know about lillies, but a crossbow might work! Of course, I am joking people… I’m not a good enough aim to hit a cat with a crossbow…”
This is funny,
https://theukuleleblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/sharkfin-ukulele-on-fire.html
My friend in the UK (King Uke) just wrote a post where his neighbour’s cat just chased a rabbit into his backyard (not an alien.-) and he was writing how much he hated that cat.
After just reading your post here and finding out about Easter Lillies I advised King Uke with my new-found knowledge,that he maybe should plant Easter Lillies around his backyard,as they are extremely toxic to cats.-)
Funny weird!
Maybe it has something to do with the Easter Full Moon ?
I tried Googleing around,but all I got about them was that they are very toxic to cats.
“All lilies are extremely toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure. Don’t bring lilies into a home with cats.”
https://gardening.about.com/od/springinthegarden/a/EasterLily.htm
The mystery remains,I guess ?
Happy Easter.
Our cats show zero interest in the lily. But that’s good info to know!
Happy Easter!
That is such a cool story about your Lily!!
Happy Easter to you and yours! It’s a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest! And I love the magic Easter lily story. It’s rather amazing…
My Christmas cactus, too! Happy Easter to all who celebrate it, and may the Easter Bunny be good to you as Spring finally brings its beauty and renewal of Life!
Nature is magic!
happy bunny trails, you all! much love!
Happy Easter. Interesting how plants seem to know what to do and when. It’s been very cold here, and still is today, but there are daffodils bringing a flash of colour.
I had a Christmas Cactus that did the same thing. Every year in December it would bloom. Love your backyard lily. What a sweet thing for it to do each year at Easter.
Happy Easter to you, too!
Our xmas cactus ditto. What is it with these plants?