May Flower is Lily of the Valley

The flower for May is the Lily of the Valley. Delicate in appearance, the Lily of the Valley consists of white, bell-shaped flowers that droop down off a solitary stalk. Though it has a sweet fragrance, the Lily of the Valley is highly poisonous and toxic to most pets such as dogs, cats and horses. The scientific name for Lily of the Valley is Convallaria majalis. Because Lily of the Valley is toxic, it isn't the best plant to give during the month of May. It is a perfect addition though to decorative gifts that you'd like to present throughout the month.

Vintage picture: Lily of the Valley and Doves

As a ground cover, Lily of the Valley can become aggressive and even invasive. Again, those who choose to plant Lily of the Valley must understand that it is poisonous and take that into account.Still, the flowers are beautiful and their sweet fragrance are often the floral note for many perfumes and fragrances. Painted lily of the valleys are a beautiful addition to many hand-crafted items and you'll find a plethora of gifts that feature this delicate and sweet yet poisonous flower.  

You may see a realistic photo of lily of the valley in my Amazon affiliate link below. Here are some of my favorite products on Amazon featuring lily of the valley. The counted cross-stitch pattern is from a vintage illustration by Cicely Mary Barker, who illustrated the "Flower Fairies." The counted cross-stitch pattern is for "The Lily of the Valley Fairy." 

What do you think about lily of the valley? Though it is beautiful and fragrant, would you risk your pets safety by planting the dainty, white blooms?