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Zone: Outer Walkway Bed
Season of Interest: Late Spring (May)
Dr. Woodward would have been intimately aware of the heart-strengthening properties of this plant. In the 1800s, it was often used as a more "civilized" alternative to Foxglove (Digitalis):
Heart Tonic: It contains cardiac glycosides used to treat heart failure and irregular heartbeats. It was thought to strengthen the heart's action without being quite as accumulative or toxic as Digitalis.
Brain and Nerves: In earlier folk traditions still practiced in the 19th century, a distilled water of the flowers was believed to help with memory loss and "comforting the brain."
The "Poison" Warning: Dr. Woodward would have warned the family that all parts of the plant are highly toxic. Even the water in a vase holding these flowers can become poisonous, a fact well-known to 19th-century households with small children or pets.
For the Woodward household, the Lily of the Valley was a "luxury" plant that provided fragrance and groundcover:
Natural Perfume: The scent is legendary. In the mid-1800s, the flowers were often gathered to create fragrant sachets for linen closets or distilled into floral waters for the vanity.
The Shade Survivor: It thrives in the deep shade where most other flowers struggle. It was used to "green up" the dark corners of the property and under the drip-line of large trees.
Bridal Symbolism: In the language of flowers (a Victorian obsession), Lily of the Valley represented a "return to happiness," making it a popular addition to local wedding bouquets in Franklin.
Form: A low-growing, spreading perennial that grows from underground stems called "pips."
Foliage: Features upright, pair of broad, lance-shaped leaves with a smooth, waxy texture.
Flowers: Dainty, white bell-shaped flowers that hang from a one-sided stalk (raceme). After flowering, the plant sometimes produces small, orange-red berries (which are also highly toxic).