Easter Lilies

The Easter lily (Lilium Longiflorum or long flower lily) is a of symbol beauty and life during Easter season in the United States. How did it get that way? And more importantly, why does it bloom right at Easter each year when Easter can vary from late March until mid-April.
According to Dr. Leonard Perry, University of Vermont in this article, the plant originally comes from Japan, discovered in the late 1700s. Then after world war II, a soldier brought some bulbs back to his home in Oregon, starting production in the United States. Now, the California Oregon border, known as the Easter lily capital of the world, produces 95 percent of all Easter lily bulbs in the world and virtually all of the plants seen in the U.S. Ten growers account for almost all of the production.
Now, on to the big question: How do the plants know when to bloom? The answer is really pretty simple. The plant needs about 1000 hours of cold temperatures in the ground before they sprout. After they sprout, the grower constantly monitors the temperature and increases it or decreases it to speed up or slow down the crop. Each plant is watched carefully and moved between a colder or warmer spot to get it to bloom at just the right time.
When buying a lily, look for one with some buds and some open flowers. Avoid plants with yellowing leaves or signs of insect damage. When the flowers open pull out the yellow anthers in the middle to prolong their life—but do not get the pollen on your clothes as it stains bad. If you do, use a pipe cleaner to take it off, don’t rub it or use a rag.
At home, keep your lily away from drafts and drying heat sources such as appliances or heating ducts. Place where there is plenty of light but not direct sunlight. Don’t overwater. Finally, if you have cats, especially those that like to chew on leaves, keep your lily away from them. Any part of this plant can cause kidney failure in cats.