The month of May is beginning soon and the sprigs of lily of the valley are about to appear everywhere in the streets.
And this year, despite the lockdown, everyone will be allowed to sell it.
Florists, subject to strict sanitary rules, stand up against street vendors, who escape all controls.
Beyond florists and supermarkets, May 1 lily of the valley will be found on the side of a road, at the exit of a metro entrance or even at the bend of a cobbled lane.
And for a simple reason: the government will allow associations and individuals to sell it on Saturday within a limit of 10 km around their home, despite the confinement linked to the coronavirus.
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It's the cold shower for florists.
"For a year, companies have been imposed drastic measures to protect the population with gauges to be respected and the obligation to make hydroalcoholic gel available", is annoyed Florent Moreau at the microphone of Europe 1. The president of the federation of florists still does not manage to "understand this provision".
"It seems to be completely insane"
"Now authorizing non-professionals to sell lily of the valley on the public highway while France is still under confinement until May 3, that seems to be completely insane", continues Florent Moreau.
But these sellers will still be subject to a few rules.
Barrier gestures must of course be respected, and they must avoid any gathering of more than six people in front of their stand.
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Good news all the same: unlike last year, florists are open quite normally. There is no need to go through the click and collect to treat yourself to a touch of lily of the valley. And industry professionals are hoping to take advantage of it because May 1 is the fourth most important selling day of the year.