This was a pleasant surprise sighted Friday evening as I was leaving the Arboretum. I did not notice it when I got there, but as I headed back down the road towards home, I saw a splash of white out of the corner of my eye, and turned to see a wide patch of lily of the valley growing in a shaded recess.
Convallaria majalis is a common woodland plant that grows in cool, shady areas. It is popular for spring gardens due to its fragant flowers and ground-covering abilities. Due to this penchant for spreading across large areas, some consider it a weed.
Like many attrtactive plants, however, lily of the valley is poisonous. Even the tiniest amount ingested or absorbed through the skin can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and a reduced heart rate.
I didn't know Lily of the Valley was poisonous. Learn something new everyday...
ReplyDeleteI love them, though. One of my favorite flowers.
They are lovely. You caught a nice curve on them.
ReplyDeleteJana: I didn't know it either, until about 7 or 8 years ago, when it was used as a means of murder in an Intrigue.
ReplyDeleteAlice: Thank you! :)