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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

The Essay Podcast

The Essay

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

The Essay: The Meaning of Flowers

The Essay: The Meaning of Flowers: Episode 2: Lily

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Lily

Episode 2

Episode 2: Lily

The Meaning of Flowers

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, The Meaning of Flowers, Lily

Professor Fiona Stafford explores our contradictory relationship with the lily.

Fiona Stafford explores our contradictory relationship with the lily, including the flower's symbolising crucifixion and swords as well as peace and virginity.

A new series of essays written and presented by experienced essayist, Fiona Stafford, Professor of Literature at Somerville College, Oxford. Following her three popular essay series The Meaning of Trees for BBC Radio 3, Fiona explores the symbolism, importance, topicality and surprises of five of the UK's most common flowers. Across the series of essays, our ambiguous relationship with some of our best known and loved flowers is explored.

Lilies have contradictorily represented death and purity, peace and weaponry, salvation and crucifixion. Nowadays there are thousands of varieties of lilies, and global dominance in this internationally lucrative industry has over the centuries moved from Japan to the USA. Many flowers we call lilies are not in fact lilies at all, including waterlilies and also lily of the valley, which is more closely related to asparagus. Our most popular lilies in the UK are a fatal danger to cats from their pollen.

Producer - Turan Ali 
A Bona Broadcasting production for BBC Radio 3.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Fiona Stafford explores our relationship with some of our best-known and loved flowers

Fiona Stafford, professor of literature at Somerville College, Oxford, explores our ambiguous relationship with some of our best-known and loved flowers

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The Meaning of Flowers

Episode 2: Lily

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