The Easter Lily
While some of the Easter lilies available are hardy varieties, most are not. Ask. The lilies should be cut back about 1/4 after the flowers have faded. Grow in the sunny window and feed just as you do the bulbs. Lilies that have been forced should not be transplanted outside until mid-June. Hardy varieties will flower the following spring. Non-hardy varieties will usually flower again in the late summer of the same season you planted it.

The Stargazer Lily
The Easter lily is one of the most enduring symbols for this sacred holiday, but there are many other wonderful lilies, like this Stargazer. It has more of an open shape than the Easter lily, and it is a great replacement for the Easter lily because it can be planted outside and will come back each year.

To prolong the blooming season of lilies, remove the anthers (the pollen-bearing part of the stamen) seen here. This removes the pollen, which tells the lily to keep blooming.

When looking for a lily at a garden center, inspect it for healthy green foliage all the way up the plant. Make sure some healthy buds exist towards the top.

Miniature Roses
These delicate beauties make a perfect lily replacement because they have a nice, subtle fragrance and do well indoors. They will grow to approximately a foot. After they've bloomed inside, they can be transplanted outside in a container. In the autumn, bring them back inside under a grow light and they'll bloom again. One note of caution, spider mites can be a problem with miniature roses. To get rid of these pests, spray the plant with a mixture of insecticide soap and water three or four times a week.

Flowering Azaleas
One of the beauties of spring is a perfect alternative to Easter lilies. This particular variety is called the "florist's azalea." They flower in the spring and are especially good for indoors, when kept cool. The blooms usually last for weeks.

Recycling Easter Bulbs
Many of the plants you buy as Easter plants are actually hardy plants that can be acclimated and used in your flower bed. Since the Easter holiday is a celebration of rebirth, the saving and regrowing of these plants is especially appropriate. With very little trouble you can convert many of these beautiful Easter plants into lasting reminders of the season of rebirth.

Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths and Crocus
Easter plants are grown from hardy bulbs just like the ones you would buy in the fall for flowering the following spring. The only difference is that the Easter bulbs were planted into a pot instead of the ground. The grower then chills the potted bulbs for at least 8 weeks before forcing or enticing them into bloom for the Easter holiday. To re-use your Easter bulbs simply cut off the spent blossoms. Grow the remaining leaves as long as possible in a bright, sunny window until the leaves yellow and wither. Keep the soil moist, but never leave the pots standing in water. You should also feed the bulb with a soluble plant food once a week. Remember, the bulb uses all its energy during flowering, so it's up to you to build up the bulb's strength for next spring's flowers with strong sunlight and a high phosphorus, soluble plant food like Miracle-Gro. After the leaves yellow and wither you should plant the bulbs in a sunny location in your yard. Then next spring, enjoy them again! Happy Easter!

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