May 1st is upon us, and May 1st means Lily of the Valley. As usual, it's also Labor Day and therefore a public holiday, so there's no excuse - everyone's entitled to a little bit of happiness! All the more so as the harvest looks set to be a good one this year. In addition to florists, garden centers and supermarkets, street sales of lilies of the valley are also authorized on this spring day.
Wondering how to sell lilies of the valley, and whether you need authorization? Labor Day is the one and only day of the year when the sale of flowers (lily of the valley only) is authorized for everyone, on the public highway. This means that anyone can sell lilies of the valley, but only under certain conditions:
Would you rather find your own lily of the valley? If you're not far from a forest, why not try your luck along the wooded paths of the Île-de-France region? It's also a great way to spend May 1st with your family, in search of those coveted sprigs of lily of the valley.
Before you set off on your adventure, you should be aware that wild-picking lily of the valley is highly unpredictable. Flowering depends on the weather - which must be neither too rainy nor too cold. That said, the weather's looking pretty good for the period and they should, in fact, grow. Sometimes you have to go deep into the forest to find these precious sprigs of lily of the valley growing in groups. The forests of Rambouillet, in the Yvelines, and Ferrières, in Seine-et-Marne, are particularly well-stocked!
A tip to preserve nature: remember to bring a knife to cut the lily of the valley sprigs cleanly, and above all, don't pull out the roots. Likewise, don't take everything, but leave some for everyone! And for the less resourceful, you'll be able to find lilies of the valley all over the streets this May 1st!
May 1st: why are lilies of the valley offered on this day? Origin and history
On May 1st, a plant is on display everywhere in France: the famous lily of the valley. But why do we offer a sprig of lily of the valley every May 1st? We explain the origins and history of this tradition. [Read more]
May 1st is Lily of the Valley Day! But if this flower smells good and you like having it around the house, make sure your pets don't come into contact with it, as it's toxic for them! [Read more]
May 1st: why are lilies of the valley offered on this day? Origin and history
May 1st: Beware, lily of the valley is toxic for your pets
