A Time of Renewal

The Easter season has a great significance to Christians and is also a cultural tradition for many. The time celebrates rebirth and renewal and is, of course, a perfect beginning to spring and its time of seasonal renewal. As many flowers begin blooming at the end of Lent, they are closely associated with this time of celebration.

Flowers represent the Easter season and there are several favorites. For most, the first flower one thinks of carries the name Easter Lily, its brilliant white coloring seen as a symbol of purity and goodness. This causes it to be associated both with the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Many repeat the legend that the lily first sprung up when drops of blood fell from Jesus at the cross. The flower actually originates from southern Japan and first came to the U.S. in the late 1880s.

World War II saw a shift in the lily market, with commercial bulb production moving to the United States. In fact, more than 95 percent of all bulbs produced for the traditional potted Easter Lily come from just a handful of farms along the California and Oregon border. To meet the demand, these farms ship more than 12 million bulbs to commercial greenhouses each year.

Some churches are literally filled with these Easter Lilies and other traditional flowers during Easter, and many churches hold Flower Festivals. Other flowers of the season include the carnation, daffodils, roses, tulips and narcissi.

Another popular Easter flower is the appropriately named Passion Flower, which carries many different symbolisms for Christians. The three stamens of this flower are said to represent variously and collectively the:

• Three wounds of Jesus caused by nails
• Three Crosses
• Trinity

Also, the flower’s distinctive 10 petals are said to represent the crown of thorns and the 10 disciples who did not betray or deny Christ. Adding to this flower’s association with Easter is the fact the flower normally remains in bloom for three days, representing the time of Jesus in the tomb.

Tips for Easter Flower Care

If you want to keep your Easter Lilies beyond the celebration and perhaps repot the bulbs, carefully select a plant that has a selection of buds. Then, remove the yellow anthers just before they start to shed pollen. This will allow the flower to live longer and prevents it being stained yellow. Cut the mature flower when it begins to wither and allow other buds to grow out.

With a little care of your lilies and other Easter flowers, you’ll have weeks of beauty to remind you of the renewal they represent.