General Topics

Does anybody know a good substitution for lily of the valley in June? Thanks!

Wow, thats a tough one....may still be a few available from Holland in early June but would be shockingly expensive. I think this is one of those cases where we just have to tell the bride that Liliy of the Valley is a seasonal spring flower and while there are no suitable substitutes, there are many other scented white flowers available. Double white Freesia?
Maybe she can plan her second marriage for the month of May?

I happen to know there is one grower in Holland who produces it year round with a very specialized process to "fool" the bulbs into blooming.  It is very very expensive but why should a bride be denied on her special day.

Pieris cream or pieris white is a good sub, last longer & cheaper than the Holland or France alternative

Out of northern California there is madrone which produces a flower that is very simular to Lily of the Valley and it actually holds up better. The problem with it is that it is not grown by any registered growers it is only grown in the wild so it cannot be shipped to Canada. Sudden Oak Death

There is a greenhouse in Pescadero, CA that grows Lily of the Valley year round But they are very difficult to deal with. Expect to be last on the list if you are not a regular customer. They are nice people they just take care of theyre regular customers first.

The name of the grower in Pescadero is West Coast they also grow tweedia alstromeria and lilys.