Happy 1st May

My DDs at the international school had to be aware when in a history exam whether it was the French or the English one they were writing about.
To meet your Waterloo.

We were talking about everything being shut in France on 8 May once where I used to work. My French colleague and I were trying to explain it to our German and Italian workmates.

Reminds me of the old joke about the French tourist in London who wondered why so many places were named after defeats (Waterloo, Trafalgar...)

The 8th May is another bank holiday but don’t forget if, as it is this year, they fall on a Sunday tough luck, no extra day is given to récup.
SuperU’s advert could make people feel guilty …. that they haven’t given any yet, another ploy to sell more.

It was SuperU I was thinking of mokryna but now I'm really confused because this magazine cover says 8 mai which is VE day?

What a charming tradition. We’ve been told that before we moved into our house, the front gardens were communal and there were lilies of the valley growing the length of the street. Apparently a couple of the residents didn’t like the scent and dug them all up. We’ve tried to grow them again in our garden, but without success.

maydonoz Yardley do a Lily of the Valley spray eau de toilette. I've worn it for years and buy it from their online shop. Also shower gel and body lotion - gorgeous and quite cheap!

1st of May for me will always be . . .

Thank you J52, Jaxjacky I am in England at the moment so they were nice to see.

We had our front garden dug up recently to lay cables (hitherto the electricity supply had come from overhead cables.) They replaced the soil with a huge amount of other soil which brought with it lilies of the valley. DH has spent most of spring trying to get rid of them as they are a veritable plague - when they've gone, they'll leave a huge bare patch - right through the middle of the front garden!

I remember learning about the custom of giving muguet posies for mother's Day and the 1st of May. They do have a lovely smell.

Happy 1st May. It used to be the custom here, that country women would gather small bunches of flowers on 1st May and take them to all their neighbours. It’s seems to have been taken over usually by celebrations for Worker’s day on 1st May and this year because it coincides with the Sunday two weeks after Easter there will be a big celebration and procession through town as the statue of the patron saint is taken back to her normal resting place to a chapel on a hill just outside the town.

I’ve tried unsuccessfully to grow them here, but my Mum (in Hampshire) had a large area of them growing, I love the smell.

Maybe growing in pots is the answer?

Thank you. They can take a while to establish, I planted my current crop under an old pear tree about 5 years ago.. They are spreading slowly.

That's so pretty J52.
I grew up in a house that had a huge swathe of Lily of the Valley every spring, but I've not had much luck in establishing them here, unfortunately.

Silly me forgot photo!

Happy May 1st!
My Muguet and Forget me Nots from the garden. So pretty and the perfume is heavenly, even with a few sprays.

Joseanne

Such dainty little flowers.
mokryna do the supermarkets still offer them to lady shoppers at the till on 1er mai. I remember them in little funnel packs.

I haven’t been offer them in supermarkets but maybe the market. Children raid their parents garden (I like to think it’s that) and set up stalls to sell them, to earn pocket money. Florist do a brisk business selling one stalk in small pots also. I have tried to grow them on my balcony to no avail. Unfortunately it’s too hot and sunny and they prefer shade

What a lovely history\story. Thank you for sharing that, M. Very interesting. Quite warmed the cockles of my heart.

Je viens de recevoir un photo d’un brin de muguet du mari de ma filleule ?
Bon premier mai à tous

Seeing lily of the valley takes me back to being junior school age in my parent’s rented terraced house in Old Trafford. It had a medium sized garden with two stone steps at the bottom which concealed a very small stone seat, surrounded by shrubs. A veritable ‘secret garden’ for a young child. Mum had planted lily of the valley there and the scent from these beautiful tiny flowers was heavenly. Of course my sister and I had been warned they were poisonous and not to touch which at a young age just added to the magic! Reading your post reminded me Calendargirl. I cannot believe this would be 60y ago now... I’m too young, surely for it to be so many years ago? Frightening to count back.

Happy 1st of May to you all.
We have a pot of Lily of the Valley in bud just outside the French window. Our neighbour apologised that hers is coming through into our garden but we assured her we are delighted it’s coming through.
It’s so lovely hearing your memories of this delightful flower.

Found this picture from those days.

I was out before 6am walking the dog for an hour and the peace and tranquility was glorious. I was serenaded the whole walk by the birds whilst I took in all the blossom and hedgerow flowers.

I remember this gesture with affection. I always bought a sprig for an elderly widowed neighbour when we lived in France. Josette sadly died and I will always associate lily of the valley with this wonderful lady whose company I always enjoyed.

I remember this when we lived in France mokryna a charming tradition, our local patron gave them to his female customers.

Lily of the Valley were in my bouquet when I was May Queen at primary school when I was 7.

Just a whiff takes me back to that day, over 60 years ago.