Lily Of The Valley

One year ago last spring I found some thick leafy green plants growing in the middle of the forest. I noticed that they spread quickly as they sprouted up in that dark forest. Every day I passed by them, I noticed how many more there were. They covered the forest floor like a thick lawn of grass. But then one day I noticed something even more special about them.

On one day, after a heavy rain, I noticed that these weren't just another ordinary plant. I saw that there were little white flowers hanging upside down from the leaves. They looked to me like little white bells. I marveled at their small size and their brilliant white color.

I soon began taking many pictures of them that day. But when I got home, none of my pictures came out okay. Every last one of them were blurry. My camera just couldn't handle the combination of the white color of the flowers and the darkness of the forest. I was very upset that I lost this stunning beauty.

So I went back to the forest as soon as I could to find the flowers again. They were long gone! I began searching high and low, but the only answer I had when I looked was forever no. Since then I've been thinking about these long lost little white flowers constantly.

I hoped if I waited long enough, and kept my eyes open, I would once again find them. I began thinking I would grow old without ever seeing them again. But on this spring day, I finally found these flowers of May! I got my second chance to claim these pictures of these tiny flowers. And I also found out what they were!

These flowers are known as Lily Of The Valley! Well, the Lily of the Valley doesn't know how long I've waited for this moment. It took a long time, and I've grown more experienced with nature since then, But now I have them! And even though they have let me go from the spell they cast on me, their beauty in my mind will always remain.

It seems as if they have given me the gift of sight this year. I found these little flowers everywhere I looked. The forest is still dark, but my sight is much better now. This time I had the experience not to pass up the chance to get the pictures of the Lily of the Valley.

Now, there is one thing I should mention about these flowers. The Lily of the Valley is highly toxic, especially to your pets. Keep them away from your dogs and cats. The odd thing is that these flowers are in a place where many people like to walk their dogs. I wonder if they know.

Do you see the carpet of green on the forest floor? All of those plants are Lily of the Valley, every one of them. There is a fallen tree just right of the center. The plants almost completely cover it. This makes it a very nice part of the forest, especially with those little white flowers.

After doing a little reading, I found that these are really very popular flowers. There are even many legends written specifically about them. In one legend they are known as Our Lady's tears. I'll let you look that up for yourself so you can have the full story if you want it.

It took me a year to find the answer, and the Lily of the Valley doesn't know.

Nature Center Magazine - Today we have a special Free Wallpaper feature for you. The photographer this time is a 13 year old boy named Tim. Please go take a look, and leave him a few comments encouraging his love of photography and nature.