We pulled into the Apple Hill driveway Saturday evening at dusk after a long, grueling, expensive week at the city house. We were all tending towards grouchiness — even Henry the cat, whose nap had been rudely interrupted to be jostled along in the truck. There in the driveway, between two old pine trees — one dead and one not looking so good — was this joyous flower: 
Yes, it certainly is odd. One lone stalk bursting into five gorgeous icy pink lily-type flowers that circle the top. We had no idea how or why that one odd flower was growing in that one odd spot. But it made us laugh and take a picture of it.
A Sunday afternoon porch sit with neighbor Betty gave me a clue. Clara always called it a Naked Lady and got angry at anyone who mowed it down while utilizing instruments of lawn destruction.
Yes, I’ve been there. Every gardener has. 
Later I googled Naked Lady Lily — ahh, the small joys of the internet — and discovered that it is not, in fact, a lily. It is Amaryllis Belladonna, and the only true amaryllis. You know those giant flowers sold at Christmas time, under the Amaryllis name? Not. (For your gardening pleasure, they are technically named Hippeastrum.)
These lovely Naked Lady Amaryllis grow leaves in the spring that die down, and then, right about now, send up one lone stalk bearing amazingly gorgeous flowers. Once I had seen them in my yard, I saw them three times yesterday in other places as well. 
Apparently Clara’s Naked Lady doesn’t know that it is hardy only up to Zone 8, and up here in the frigid hinterlands of Zone 5, the bulbs have to be dug up in the fall and replanted in the spring. They look best planted with hostas, and they don’t mind a shady spot, though they prefer sun.
These lovely flowers are originally from South Africa and were brought by sailors to Europe in the 1700s. They love the Mediterranean climate the best. (Who doesn’t?) 
So now I have a quandary — should I just let it be and risk losing it? Should I dig it up and replant it in the spring with a few others? One website noted that they really don’t like being disturbed… The bulbs are 3 for $39.95! Gulp. No wonder Clara only had one! Maybe I’ll just plant some pretty hostas around it…
C.S. Lewis wrote about interruptions in a letter that is quoted in Yours Jack: Spiritual Direction from C.S. Lewis. He said that interruptions of one’s own, or real life, are not interruptions at all, but your real life — the life God is sending you day by day. Life is filled with little interruptions — sometimes they aren’t pleasant, sometimes they are just irritating, but sometimes they are little gems of beauty, laughter, joy.
These moments are your real life; note them and be thankful for them. No matter how small.
I had other small surprises this weekend that made me smile. How about you?
the circle of life 
Beautiful!!!!!
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Thank you! :-)
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Oh, those are just beautiful! I’m so happy for you that you were “rewarded” with this pleasant surprise at the end of a not-so-pleasant day. I have no idea what you should do with them, but I know you will certainly enjoy them for now.
I was given a small surprise today from my sister-in-law, a cute little shirt that she saw & it made her think of me, so she bought it for me. :) I can’t remember the last time someone bought me something to wear, so it was pretty special that….
a.) she was thinking about me when I wasn’t here, and
b.) she gave me the gift.
Hope you have a great week! Enjoy those flowers!
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It is nice to get presents of clothing, isn’t it? Especially when you like the giver’s taste!
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Love finding little surprise blossoms here as well! So pleasant! Thanks for the insight on life’s little interruptions… I needed to hear that this week :)
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Oh we all do! When I first read that quote, I thought — how wonderful it would be to look at life that way. No such things as interruptions. I’m trying…
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Naked Ladies are all over the place out here in California – and that sentence makes it sounds more interesting than it really is :) Must be the over-rated Mediterranean climate.
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They also do well with dryness. And they like to bloom after wildfires. So I’m not really expecting it to come back. They really are a very strange flower with a funny name. They’re also called Jersey Lilies but that’s not nearly as fun to say. (There are a few in the front garden at the church–I guess those would have to be called Baptist Jersey Lilies).
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I simply must have me a Sunday afternoon porch sit. Oh, what fun. And what an intriguing name for such a beautiful flower! Lots of small surprises and some are not at all delightful- but always part and parcel of this life I’m blessed to live!
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Yes, it is always nicer when the surprises are delightful. :-)
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Those are beautiful flowers! I love the background information you give too. They add beauty after fires. Hmm, I wonder if any grew after our fires here in Colorado…..
I haven’t had lots of surprises, but I’m excited to see some of our tomatoes beginning to turn red. And this morning’s sunrise about stole my breath away. Those were sweet surprises. :)
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I have heard them called Surprise Lilies or Resurrection Lilies. I like the latter better as it grows in not so impressive leaves in the spring that die and dry up only to erupt suddenly as a new creation full of beauty and wonder.
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