Lily

The lily is a flower of contradictions: it represents both life and death, appearing at weddings as well as funerals. In their pure white form, lilies are a symbol of innocence, chastity and purity of heart, but the highly fragrant and intensely coloured lilies symbolize passion. In Lily, Marcia Reiss explores these paradoxes, tracing the flower’s cultural significance in art, literature, religion and popular culture throughout history. 

From the tomb carvings of ancient Egypt to the paintings of Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe and Salvador Dalí, the lily has been an object of fascination and obsession around the world. An exotic luxury in Western horticulture, for centuries lilies have also been a source of food and medicine in China. Whether true lilies, or the wide variety of flowers popularly known as lilies – including daylilies, lilies of the valley, water lilies and calla lilies – these flowers have featured in some of the greatest gardens in the world, from the earthly paradises of Islam to the ordered perfection of Versailles and the naturalistic fantasies of vast English estates.Filled with striking illustrations of these gorgeous plants, Lily will delight gardeners and lily admirers alike.