2012: Bermuda Easter Lilies For The Queen
In the 19th and early 20th centuries Bermuda was known as “The Easter Isle” because of its hugely successful lily farming industry — and the island still commemorates its one-time major cash crop by sending bouquets to Buckingham Palace every year.
Governor Sir Richard Gozney, Lady Gozney and farmer Tom Wadson are seen here at Wadson’s Farm in Southampton early this morning [Apr.4] where they picked Easter Lilies for the Queen.
The traditional bunch of Bermuda Easter Lilies is destined for Windsor Castle via British Airways. Photo courtesy of the Department of Communication & Information,
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Articles that link to this one:
- Farmer Tom Wadson: The Queen And I … | Bernews.com | April 7, 2012
were is all the lillies this year every year i see less and less
They are with the land crabs.
You will see more lillies end of April
Why doesn’t Bermuda REVIVE this industry and make it a major cash crop again. It’s NOT impossible! We have to start somewhere!
Re-elect the PLP, let them completely scare away international business and tourism… Then you’ll get your wish!
Just about all arable land has been concreted over,like the fiasco Grand Atlantic and the like.So, even if we wanted to go back to the land when all I.B. has gone; there will be little available to do so.
I’ve always thought this would be a good idea also. In Bermuda we have always tried to put our eggs in a one industry basket without a backup. Bermuda’s climate is also good for growing all types of bulb plants that fetch top dollars from floral suppliers in North America. Bulb plants are a nice crop for Bermuda because they grow best closer to each other unlike other plants that need more spacious land.
Where you gonna get the land Tommy.
Shipping and Horticultrual examinations.
This is 2012, not 1940′s +
St. Georges
We have flights that go out everyday on short westward trips so there’s no way the flowers will rot. America excepts flowers from Aalsmeer without strict horticultural examinations so why wouldn’t they for us. Also we have an erg & fish department that can check on our side before they leave & they’d love to have an excuse for more staff.
You’re right this is not the 1940′s but it might as well be 1929 the way our economy is going. We need to look at any positive prospect possible even if it means looking back to past industries. Our tourist & IB boom started off in the 1940′s also we just left other industries behind because we got too presumptuous.
It’s wonderful that Bermuda has kept up with this tradition of shipping lillies to Her Majesty. I’m just disappointed that the Government has decided to use Tom Wadson in the traditional photograph as opposed to a photo of two little girls dressed in their “Sunday best”.
I would say that we have a “ground breaking” photograph photograph for the event.
lavern, it is your govenment that decided to use Tom Wadson.. and in my opinion they did the right thing….I could care less about two little girls dressed in their sunday best. Tom Wadson has done so much for bermuda and all you can say is you want the little girls in their sunday best to represent us….Lavern PLEASE GET SOME HELP….. or call Everest da costa who sucks up to you….
I agree with you. We have some amazing talented professional and amateur photographers here in Bermuda and even a few Photography Clubs. Why not take advantage of the pool of talent we have in this agrea and have some fun with different ideas and perspectives.
The answer is quite simple and she knew the answer before the question : They are clueless!
I’m going to be a buzzkill here and I hope this gets printed. I mean no disrespect to anyone-especially the Queen-but are these flowers even received by her? I can’t see how we can send flowers out there and how they can accept them with the assumption that they are free of disease or pests that could be harmful to England’s plant life. I mean, wouldn’t they need to be inspected for pests before they’re sent on to the castle? How do we know they’re not simply being destroyed upon entry to the U.K.?
I’m really not trying to be rude or anything-I’m just wondering. Maybe we inspect them on this side and that is relayed to the U.K. people who control this stuff. if not, these flowers could be ending up being incinerated without being passed on for all we know. I’m really just wondering how this all works…I mean, they ask you at Customs if you’re transporting any fruit, vegetables, plants, etc. for a reason…
I’m guessing tey are inspected just like any other fruit, plant or flower arriving in the UK for sale at a flourist.
are these organic lilies???
tom u will probably get a note from her majesty saying the STEMS ARE TOO SHORT, you know she likes those long stemmed lillies!!!
The reason they are that short is that they were planted late. I plant most of mine in december the only problem is some flower & drop petals before Easter when planted this early. This year the weather has been great for them & mine are close to 2 1/2 feet & are just blooming. Bulbs are great for gardeners because they regenerate for years & don’t need chemicals just bonemeal & will not attract many pest so there’s a good chance Tom’s are organic.
Yes Tom Lillies from your Garden to Elizabeth our Queen… how s p e c i a l R U….
Betts
Awesome photo!