Hello all Took a shot of this one yesterday evening and did some smudge painting on it today . An Easter Ily to celebraste the season. My Mom always had one in her house at easter time ..., lol infact sometimes 3 or four! Always a reminder that Easter is drawing near! Now a little history on how it became the Easter lily ( at least where I live in California!) : ------------------------------------------- The Easter Lily - the Latin name is Lilium longiflorum- is native to the southern islands of Japan. In the 1880's, it was widely cultivated in Bermuda and bulbs were shipped to to the United states. Around the turn of the century, the Japanese took over the annual growing exportation of Easter Lilies to the United States, and continued to dominate the U.S. export market until the start of World War II. Current U.S. production began with a World War I soldier, Louis Houghton, who brought a suitcase full of hybrid lily bulbs to the South coast of Oregon in 1919. Houghton freely distributed bulbs to his horticultural friends and neighbors. During WW II, the Japanese source of bulbs was abruptly cut off. As a result, the value of lily bulbs sky-rocketed and many who were growing the lilies as a hobby decided to go into business. The Easter Lily bulbs at that time were called "White Gold", and growers everywhere attempted to cash in on the crop. By 1945 , there were about 1,200 growers producing bulbs up and down the Pacific coast, from Vancouver, Canada to Long Beach, California. But, producing quality, consistent lily bulbs proved to be an exact and demanding science with specific climatic requirements. Over the years, the total number of Easter Lily bulb producers dwindled down to just ten farms in a small, isolated coastal region straddling the Oregon-California border. This region, called the Easter Lily Capital of the World, produces nearly all of the bulbs for the blooming potted Easter Lily market. Even after the Japanese started to ship bulbs in again after the war, they have never been able to come close to the quality of those healthy, U.S.-grown bulbs, and thus never regained any significant market share. From the fields to the greenhouse to your home, the Easter Lily remains the traditional, time-honored flower of Easter. Symbolic of a resurrection, Easter Lilies rise from earthy graves as scaly bulbs, and bloom into majestic flowers that embody the beauty, grace and tranquillity of the special region from which they originate. ------------------------------------------------ Thanks for all your wonderful time and comments ! Love to you all! ((( Big hugs ))) ♥ Kimmers ! :O)