Since falling a bit under the weather last month, I have been neglecting the poor garden terribly! The whole place is wild and woolly. This afternoon, I went out to find the old cat, Ms. Put, when I realized what a mess the place was. I felt bad for the overgrown boxes and dried out plants. Everything has gone to seed which is ok except I need to be out picking those seeds for next spring. It ain't happenin', folks...it ain't happenin'.
As I turned to head back inside (without the elusive cat), one garden box greeted me with a happy surprise. A bunch of lilies decided to bloom in the midst of the overgrown purple basil. Aww, I needed that surprise. I say surprise because I had no recollection of planting the bulbs in the box. I am sure that I probably stuck them there out of pure desperation one day when I had to hurriedly remove the bulbs from the path of my menfolk. The guys are doing some restoration work on the Little Bayou House and I have noticed that if any plants are within a mile of their feet, the plants are goners. I hear things like "No, they are not in the way." but then the next thing I see is trampled plants. I guess they were not in the way anymore after that. Smashed to smithereens is not too healthy for most plants and while bulbs would most likely survive, I try to dig them before they become unrecognizable as bulbs.
During the fall, these lilies always put on a show that is nothing short of spectacular. The Red Spider Lily can be found growing wild by the masses in fields and along roadsides in the Deep South. The original bulbs are said to have been brought from Japan in 1854. One Captain William Roberts acquired three bulbs and carried them home to North Carolina. Those bulbs are said to not have bloomed until after the Civil War. By then, the bulbs had multiplied profusely and laid out a carpet of red blooms over the entire south.
The Yellow Spider Lilies were introduced much later but have spread just as rapidly as their red counterparts. It is not uncommon to see vast fields of both flowers blooming during mid to late September.
There are numerous whimsical names attached to these flowers. Naked Ladies...due to the lack of leaves when the blooms are present...Hat Flowers...since some say they resemble large hats...and Burlesque Ladies...which alludes to the first name...are all local jargon for the same plant. Whatever they are called, most folks are always happy to see the flowers in bloom. With their arrival, we all know that cooler weather is not far behind. The long, hot, drowsy summer stretch is dwindling quickly to give way to cooler nights. The flowers are a sure sign of fall.
The arrival of the "Red Hat Ladies" is an assurance that Fall is here. Not to be confused with the lovely ladies of the organization of the same name, the "ladies" to which I refer are flowers. The Coast is covered with the bobbing heads of the flowers which have a tendency to pop up unexpectedly in the oddest of places. One never knows where there will be a splash of red (and sometimes pink or yellow.) Ditches, fields, well-manicured lawns, woods and, lo and behold, even flower gardens can be blessed with the sudden beauty of the lilies.
These lovely flowers can go by the name of Guernsey Lilies, Nerine Lilies or the common names of "Red Hat Ladies" and "Naked Ladies". The latter is due to the fact that when the flowers bloom, they have no leaves thus being quite bare. Since the cluster of blooms have been said to resemble a lady's hat, it was assumed that was all she wore! The name "Naked Lady" stuck and now when some stranger to the area overhears locals referring to the blooms, they might be in for quite the shock. Just imagine overhearing the following conversation!
"Hey, the Naked Ladies are here so I guess Fall has come."
"Do you mean the Red Hat Ladies?"
"Yep, did you see Old George's field? There must have been a thousand of them out there in all their glory!"
"Nah, I'll have to drive over and take a look. That must be some sight!"
"It sure is. They are all out there waving those hats around like crazy!"
Needless to say, Old George's field might become the gathering place for a lot of fellows hoping to catch a glimpse! Won't they be in for a surprise when all they find are happy flowers gently blowing in the breeze.
It always makes me happy to find the "Red Hat Ladies" bobbing their hats in the soft Bay breezes. Fall is here and Old Man Winter is just around the corner!
