So in the spring, in two of my flower beds (the one above the driveway, and the ‘snake’ bed at the side of the front yard), many plants with what looks like huge tulip leaves arise. But nothing happens. Just leaves, no buds, no blossoms. Scattered in among the daffodils and actual tulips. When those leaves die back, as we’re planting the impatiens, the others do, too.
And now, late July / early August, mysterious pale stems push up through the dirt – and can grow several inches in a day. When they are 18″ – 24″ tall, they stop growing, and pretty soon, multiple buds form at the top of these sticks (some of which have to be propped up with real sticks, because they become so heavy).
And then those big pink lily blossoms open, almost like amaryllis in the winter, and we have an extravaganza for a few short weeks – which subsides nearly as quickly as it comes up.
Mystery lilies, I was told, when given them to transplant years ago. Maybe this year is the year I will find out what their real name is.