There are hundreds of species of the lily family (Liliaceae). In
the New World, Lilies extend from southern Canada through much
of the United States. In the Old World, they extend throughout
much of Europe, through Asia to Japan and the Philippines and to
the Nilgiri mountains in India. Legend has it that the creation
of the lily was dedicated to the goddess Hera, who was the wife
of Zeus. Zeus fathered Hercules with a mortal woman named Alceme
– he then wished his son to partake more fully of divinity. He
then had Hera drugged and brought the baby to her, placed the
baby to her breast and Hercules nursed. Hera was horrified when
she awoke and flung the baby from her. As she flung, the milk
gushed across the heavens and formed “the milky way”. Then a few
drops fell to earth, and it was from those drops that sprang the
first lilies. Then there’s the Roman legend that tells of Venus
rising from the sea-foam and then seeing a lily. She becomes
filled with jealousy and envy at the beauty and whiteness of it.
She