Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-07
THE EASTER FLOWERS
LILIES MOST IN FAVOR FOR CHURCH
DECORATION.
Grown in Enormous Quantities in
Bermuda-Orchfds, Vfolets and
Spring Blossoms.

4NoI III anu SOulIi, east anu west, Ill dp-
parently unite in the observance Of the
Easter festival. In this country it is more
truly the festival of spring than May day,
which is little celebrated. Easter eggs,
Easter gifts of all classes and Easter ser
vices in the churches have contributed to
make Easter almost a national holiday. As
Easter comes at the close of the long, dark
winter, when the first flowers in favored
places are beginning to put forth tender
shoots and the forced blossoms in the for
lists windows are anticipating the floral dis
play that will later be found outdoors It is
only natural that humanity should exhibit
joy.
The decorating of the house is natural
sequence to the interest taken in decorating
the church for Easter. The stands in the
markets and upon the streets, where flow
ers may be bought for few weeks before
Easter at very reasonable prices have
made 1t possible for persons of even modest
means to have their special Easter blooms.
AT this season there are so many flowers
to choose from that 1t is sometimes difficult
to decide which to select from the many
beauties. There are lilies, daffodils, GRO
cuseS, primroses, orchids. daisies, hya-
clnthS, azaleas, Jonquils, narcissuses and
cyclamens
Consider the Lilies.
Lilies are the flowers most used for deco
rating the church at Easter The lily is
citation. Away back in the dim ages when
the pyramids were building and the Nile
was the center of the worlds civilization
the Egyptian priesthood chose the lotus,
one OF the members of the lily family, as
the sacred flower of their religion, and in
dnala Buadha Is tabled to have made his
entree into the world seated on a lotus
blossom. Flowers of the lily family indeed
take prominent part in all religious cere-
moniais The Hebrews were great admirers
nd &c
in the Scriptures. In Catholic countries the
lily Is sacred to the Virgin Mary because ii
is symbol Of purity. The old masters
panied their angels with lilies in their
hands The legend tells that when the dis
ciples looked into the tomb of Christ after
the resurrection 1t was found to be filled
with lilies: Owing to these old legends the
Hover gained its importance in the SER
vices of the church Like the shamrock If
Is the symbol of the Trinity, for all its
parts are arranged in threes or groups of
three. Va
The FavOrite Blossoms
All varieties Of lilies may be raised sue
cessfully in pots, the auratum being one
OF the best for window growing The can
didum or Madonna lily used to be the IA
vorite Easter lily. 1t is a native of the
Levant and one Of the oldest varieties 1t
Is the sort that one sees represented in old
pictures. 1t is also known as the annuncia-
ton lily. The harristi lily and the Gala
are favorite specimens for Easter decora-
ton.
Many of the lilies sold in this country
come from the Bermuda Islands, where
they are grown In enormous quantities for
the Easter trade. AS the demand for them
IS very great, 1T is no unusual thing for a
fine lily to sell for s. at that time Those
VINO understand how to raise flowers from
huibs may have them at little expense If
they VIII take the trouble to pot and care
Tor them early in the season. AS the flow
ers only last for couple of weeks and they
ers generally prefer less troublesome plants.
An Orchid Time, Too.
Next to lilies orchids have come to be the
most popular Easter flowers Orchids are
expensive at all times, and at Easter their
cost is something to make an impression
on the pocket book even of a Midas so
very few people can afford them. Violets
may now be purchased at almost any sea-
son of the year, and they have ceased to be
the novelty they once were. DaffodilS GRO
cuses. snowdrops and hyacinths, which are
especially seasonable. may be all grown at
nome. One difficulty in raising them is that
they should be planted about September
six weeks before the time for them to
bloom. Hyacinths, pink, purple, white and
blue, are hardy and ornamental.
number of plants included in one iardi-
Mere will bloom very well and make an or
namental piece for the center of the table
The center of the dinner or luncheon
table, the windows and the mantleshelf
dnieres sold especially for plants are pretty
enough for any purpose. even for the table,
when silver box Is out of the question
EDITH LAWRENCE