Easter Lilies

The Bermuda Lily, with its large white blooms, symbolizes the pure new life that comes from the Resurrection of Christ. Because they are shaped like trumpets, the blooms are also symbolic of immortality. Church pulpits are often adorned with lilies at Easter to remember loved ones.



In Roman mythology, the lily is associated with Juno, Queen of the Gods. When Juno was feeding Hercules one day, she dropped some portion of the milk and it fell to earth. Wherever the milk hit the ground, a gorgeous pure white lily would rise up.



Bermuda Lilies were first located in Bermuda by Ms. Thomas Sargent in 1880. She brought them back with her to Philadelphia. Real Easter Lilies are found in Japan on the islands of Liuchiu Archipelago. They grow wild on the rocky coast. The beautiful flowers were first collected by Carl Thunberg in 1777 and sent to England around 1800. The bulbs found their way to the United States by 1930. The flowers bloom around Easter in early spring. You will find them in most Easter floral arrangements and in the church pulpits. A popular version of this flower is the Lavender Calla Lily Plant.



Artists have for several centuries portrayed Gabriel the Angel as coming to the Virgin Mary with a spray of lilies to announce that she would be Jesus' mother.



Sometimes known as the "White-robed Apostles of hope," lilies were seen growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus' agony on the cross. It is said that the lilies grew up where each drop of His sweat fell to the ground in his final hours.



To keep them longer after Easter, you need to follow these suggestions. For the blooms to last longer, snip out the yellow anthers once the flower opens. Pick plants that only have 1-2 buds open. Don't place the plant in a hot window or in direct sunlight.