20 August 2012

Surprise,


the darling   Lycoris radiata has arrived. Here long before I moved in. The flowers likely preceded the house. I like to think so. I don't have any red in the garden-but these-alongside the basement steps-appear every year around this time-though a bit early this year-and I love them. They are treasured.




 

 They tell a someone's story-in the garden.

their story, from The Southern Bulb Company-
In 1854 Commodore William Perry opened the ports to Japan aboard some of the U.S. Navy's first steam powered ships while under orders from President Millard Fillmore. Aboard one ship in the fleet was a certain Captain William Roberts, who had a keen eye for horticultural treasures. While in Japan, Captain Roberts acquired three bulbs of a plant with red spidery type blooms. His niece would later described the bulbs as being, "in such a dry condition that they did not show signs of life until the War between the States." These three bulbs survived and eventually thrived in their new North Carolina home before spreading across the Southern U.S.(text linked)










14 comments:

  1. We have similar here...pink, more like amaryllis with a heavy scent...heavenly in fact! Would love a bulb or two to propagate here along the hillside overlooking the creek...wink wink!

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  2. Those are lovely. What a treat!

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    1. I think so-each year I say- Oh yes-there they are-and don't give them a thought til the appear.

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  3. I think they are so joyful and so beautiful!

    Wow!

    What lovely color......and a wonderful surprise each year!

    Lucky you!

    And you deserve t!!
    Penelope

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    1. they are lovely-I think at times to add to-but then again No, they know what they're doing!

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  4. a personal favorite...when everything else if fried from the long summer, they are such a delight. Thank you for the history, I had no idea

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    1. I love a flower with a history-and they do arrive just when all is wilting. pgt

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  5. I'm from coastal Louisiana and these are refered to as hurricane lilies- The pop up from nowhere and it happens just when hurricane season gets going-

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  6. aka Spider Lilies. They've always been special to me, and they are a little early this year. When I was born in mid-September in Vicksburg, my great aunt had her cook bring a silver champagne bucket full of them to my mother in the hospital. Since then, they've always been "our" flower. Thanks for this post!

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    1. Newell, they are early, such an unseasonably warm-Hot spring. What a "great" story and as an aunt I like to think we have a special connection with our kin-and great taste too. She sounds as if she did. I can just see them!

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