Why lilies at Easter?
Seen in early Christian and pagan histories alike, lilies feature prominently in the Bible. Jesus Christ referred to “lilies of the field” in his Sermon on the Mount. After Christ’s agony, lilies were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed him. Lilies also are said to have sprung from sweat and blood Christ shed in his final hours. Artists and writers long have associated white lilies with the annunciation, resurrection and the Virgin Mary. The flower’s pristine petals are thought to signify the virgin’s physical purity, the golden anthers, her soul’s heavenly light. Extend the life of your Easter lilyAfter the lily’s blooms wilt, pick them off and plant the bulbs, stems still attached, outside in a well-drained garden bed in a sunny location. Plant the bulbs 3 inches below ground level, at least 12 to 18 inches apart, and mound an additional 3 inches of topsoil over them.As the original plants begin to die back, cut the stems to the soil surface. New growth wil
