Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment. ~Ellis Peters

My favorite time of year is Spring time. I love the colors, the smells, the breezes, and the subsiding cabin fever. I just don't know what I would do if I either lived in a place that had no Spring time relief or else had it all year long - on the one hand we would never know the joy of the season and on the other it would be taken for granted. Kind of like candy. Mmmm... candy... Um, where was I?

This is some kind of crab apple tree in our front lawn, not sure which kind, and after a handful of years of living here, this is the 2nd time I've seen it have such wonderful blossoms. The first time was just before Neal and I got married. Since we most likely wont be here next year, this will be the last time we see it in all its beauty.

The sidewalks were lined with pink petals

These pictures were taken just last weekend. Even now when I've finally been able to write about this, the blossoms have fallen and the petals on the pavement have become a vintage brown.

During the time when Neal and I were engaged, Neal moved into the townhouse we now currently live in. When spring had come, I had fun trying to figure out what all of the plants were which were most likely planted by the previous resident (must have been quite the gardener). A few days before I left to get ready for our wedding, I discovered that these were growing under our front window. I recognized them to be Lily of the Valley and if I remembered right, from what I learned in my Floral Design class (back when I had credits to burn during my undergrad years) is that these are the official wedding flower. I haven't found anything on the web to confirm that though. But nonetheless I thought it was a wonderful coincidence!

Wikipedia has some interesting facts on this flower:

"The flower is also known as Our Lady's tears since, according to Christian legend, the tears Mary shed at the cross turned to Lilies of the Valley. According to another legend, Lilies of the Valley also sprang from the blood of St. George during his battle with the dragon. Other names include May Lily, May Bells, Lily Constancy, Ladder-to-Heaven, Male Lily and Muguet.

"Traditionally, Lily of the Valley is sold in the streets of France on May 1. Lily of the Valley became the national flower of Finland in 1982. The Norwegian municipality Lunner has a Lily of the Valley in its coat-of-arms.

"The name "Lily of the Valley" is also used in some English translations of the Bible in Song of Solomon 2:1, although whether the Hebrew word "shoshana" (usually denoting a rose) originally used there refers to this species or not is uncertain. The meaning of this flower is "You will find Happiness."

All sounds lovely but then I found this, "The plant was long used medicinally for cardiac disorders and contains poisonous substances."

Good feelings gone. Panic mode on standby.