A Dangerous Beauty

   For as long as I can remember, Flame Lilies (also known as Fire Lilies or Gloriosa Lilies) have adorned the gardens of many family members.  Pop had them.  Aunt Marie had them.  The "Lamey Twins" had them.  Just about every yard had the things growing (and often growing out of control).  My lilies have gotten out of control.  They are everywhere.  Their stunning blooms brighten all corners of the gardens and have sort of taken over the entire place.  I have got to figure a way of putting a damper on the rapid proliferation of these things or I may as well give up on any diversity in the plants.  They are getting that bad.

  Now...as beautiful as they are, comes the bad part.  These things are highly poisonous!  Don't eat them!  Don't even taste them!  And, surely, do not let the kiddos or the family pet gnaw on them.  All parts are toxic and are deadly to both humans and animals.  Supposedly, only porcupines can tolerate the plant and, unfortunately, I have none around here to help me stifle the growth of the lilies.  

  With no help in sight, I suppose I shall have to dig and destroy many of the lovely lilies.  It saddens me to do so but they just cannot take over the whole place.  Just a note...if you do handle any part of the lily, wear gloves or, at least, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands!  Ummm...this comes from someone who never wears gloves and does not wash the hands after each plant.  Oh, well...pray for me!

Where are my blueberries?

   I often wonder what Pop must think of my gardening skills.  He is probably looking down from Heaven and shaking his head at my mishmash of gardens.  I have a grand tendency of plopping plants wherever there is space and letting them grow with wild abandon.  This is a far cry from his orderly gardens back on the farm.  The vegetable fields were for vegetables.  The flower gardens were for flowers.  Each was carefully separated even down to the different type plants.   There was no mixing.  Each had its own space.  There were no tomato plants in the petunia bed.  There were no jasmine vines covering a fence in the squash patch.  There were no gloriosa lilies mixed in with the wisteria which was covering the same fence as a few roses and some more jasmine.  I just figure they can all get along or move along.  If they do not do well, then that is their problem.  So far, this has worked and everything seems happy.  I know I am.

  There is one problem that will have to be remedied this next winter, however.  Near that fencerow that has the conglomeration of vines, there are some blueberry bushes.  Those bushes are now under the vines.  Yep, my blueberry bushes have become arbors for the mingling vines.  It seems as if they will have to be moved a bit further away if I am to ever find the ripe berries amid the blooms of the other plants.  It appears that my method may not be working at its best.  Oh, well.  That is a chore for this winter and there is no use in fretting over it at the moment.

The Name Is Pretty Accurate

   Gloriosa Lilies are something that Pop planted and tended with much care.  He loved the way the plants, although lilies, grew like vines.  They actually will twine around anything given the chance.  In just a matter of moments, the tendrils can latch on and then cling while supporting the tall plants.  After the plants get approximately 4 to 5 ft tall, BAM!, there is an explosion of blooms!  Like Pop, I plant the lilies.  In fact, I got my start from him.

  The lilies are also sometimes called Flame Lilies due to their red, yellow and orange colors.  Each bloom starts as a sort of pale yellow and, as the blooms age, they flip inside out and start a progression from yellow to orange to red.  Honestly, I thought that the name was...meh...ok but did not see the full resemblance until this morning.  

  As usual, I was on the pier before dawn and once I started the trek back up the hillside to the Small Gardens, the beauty of the Flame Lilies hit me.  Wow!  Yep!  They really live up to that name!  With the beams from the rising sun backlighting the lilies, they really resembled fire!  Whoa!  While the sunrise was just so-so, this was extraordinarily breathtaking!  My goodness!

  Now that I have witnessed the "fire" in the Flame Lilies, I am pretty sure that the name will stick.  Too bad most other folks will never see them as I had the opportunity to do this morning.  (Not many folks are traipsing about the place at the crack of dawn.)  

More than just plants...

  My gardens that surround the Little Bayou House are a mishmash of plants.  These were mostly gifted to me by long gone family members and dear friends.  During the spring and early summer months, the backyard begins to resemble a rainforest of sorts.  Plants literally get so entangled that it is impossible to walk the paths.  These plants come up and grow where they please and I could not be happier with the look. 

  There are two areas that are completely covered with the gloriosa lilies.  The lilies have multiplied and are now entwined with the citrus trees and buckeye tree.  Gloriosa lilies have a need for a trellis as they are tall and spindly but, over time, the plants have solved their problems on their own.  Each leaf has a tendril that will wrap tightly around anything that is within reach so you better not lallygag about the garden too long or you may become a trellis yourself!  The gloriosa lilies were a gift from Pop.  His gardens were always impeccably maintained and the lilies always were showstoppers!  

  In an area nor far from the gloriosas, the parrot lilies have outdone themselves.  Parrot lilies are also known as Peruvian lilies or Inca Lilies.   For most of the year, the plant grows close to the ground with the prettiest little rosettes of round leaves.  Then, suddenly, they shoot up tall stalks with 7 to 11 blooms in a cluster at the top.  Each bloom on mine are deep red edged with green.  They are tube like flowers that draw hummingbirds and butterflies in droves.  The parrot lilies were a gift from a favorite aunt.  She had them planted by the steps of the door leading to the Bay.  I remember helping her weed this garden one time and she gave lots of advice on how to let plants and people have their own space.  Her gardens were always a wonderland of interesting plants. 

  While my gardens will never compare to those of the folks who gifted the plants, they are filled with the love that came with the gifts.  I think of these folks each time I meander the paths ducking beneath the low hanging branches and admiring the variety of blooms.  Today, it occurred to me that gardens are more than just plants.  They are true friends, great teachers and keepers of memories.

Not So Sure About This!

  It should come as no great surprise that I will reach for an herb before a pill.  While I have nothing against modern medicine, doctors or their vast knowledge, I still prefer to know exactly what I am putting in my mouth or applying to my body.  I will, however, listen to my doctor and take what he prescribes if he fully explains why I am to do this and if I fully agree that it is needed.   It has long been my thinking that the patients never ask enough questions about their health care.   I have been known to fully refuse to take some medicines that were prescribed as they were merely given to me to shut me up.  Nope, I want to know why I hurt, what is causing it, what the medicines are going to do to my body, how long it will take and if it is a permanent fix.  But, at the same time, I am leery of some of the so-called herbal remedies.  If you do not study enough, you are just liable to make things a whole lot worse.  With today's readily available "credible" information via the Internet, a lot of things are tossed out there that can cause major problems.  As I always say, check with your doctor BEFORE trying any herbal cure.  A lot of the information that is thrown at us is not accurate by far.  

  Just today, I made a discovery that probably should be tossed out there in the mix.  I have Gloriosa Lilies growing everywhere.  Staying true to the lore behind them, those things will take over the place if allowed.  The plants, though beautiful, are highly invasive and since I have been concentrating on the remodeling job, I have rather neglected the yard.  This afternoon as I strolled through the gardens, I was greeted by hundreds of the lilies in bloom.  Granted they were a bit battered by the rainstorm of the day but their bright blooms still brought a smile.  They always make me think of Pop and his gorgeous flower gardens that filled the yard.  Then a memory from Pop's great wisdom..."Don't eat any part of those lilies.  They are poisonous and could kill you."  Pop passed along all sorts of things that have come in extremely handy in my later years.  Not that I had an itching to munch a lily but it is good to know.  

  Curious, I did a bit of research on the Gloriosa Lily.  To my surprise, I am finding article after article that refers to the lily's ability to cure just about everything but baldness.  A lot of the sites claimed that "extract from the stems can kill lice"....alright, that may be ok if applied topically.  "The root heals snakebite"....huh?  I guess if you die, it was the snake's fault and not a poisonous tuber.  "The tuber heals cancer, cures leprosy and eases constipation."  Wow!  Why has the medical field not jumped on this one???  Then, one article claims that it has "great medicinal uses such as abortion, suicide and homicide."  Can any of those be filed under great medicinal uses?  Sounds sort of like just the opposite to me.

  I had to giggle when, in one article, a huge disclaimer banner rolled across the screen."This site is not to be held responsible if death occurs while following some of the remedies recommended here."  WAIT???? WHAT?????  Well, at least they covered themselves, I guess.

  So, it sounds like Pop was right about this lily.  DON"T EAT ANY PART OF IT!!!  Enjoy the beauty of the flame colored blooms and the delicate whorls of leaves but do NOT ingest any of it....and make sure you follow the advice of your doctor not some Internet wannabe herbalist.  Never..ever go out and grab a plant thinking that it is perfectly safe because you read about it somewhere. (And I am sure there are those who will contradict me but so be it.  My whole point here is to warn folks to use herbs and plants wisely, knowledgeably and carefully.  Reread that other site's disclaimer before taking a bite.  That should be warning enough!)  Thanks, Pop.  You are a lifesaver!

Seeing? Or Merely Looking?

  It was a bright, sunshiny day here on the Bayou.  It was one of those days were the sun beams down upon you and causes sweat to run down your face in tiny rivulets.  It was hot.  It was one of those days where it was best to work in the shade if you had a desire to be outside at all.  I chose to repaint the wicker chairs.  This could be done in the shade of the old oak tree and allow me to at least avoid much of the heat.  All was good.

  While out, I decided that the garden needed the aid of the sprinkler so I dragged the garden hose about the place and set the sprinkler in motion. Well, that was not the brightest move!  The sprinkler was blocking my exit.  I would have to walk the long way around the house to get back to my painting job.  As I did, I noticed that the Gloriosa Lilies were blooming.  Ahh, what is a few extra steps when you can observe such beauty?   I admired the lilies' bright hues and then noticed that the brilliant sun was making me "see" much more than I observed.  While the lilies were highly colorful with their yellows, oranges and reds, it was the shadows that actually made me see the shapes of the flowers and leaves.  Wow!  I was looking at something I have seen a thousand times in an entirely different way;  

  I am always stressing to folks that they need to see and not just look. This action takes things to a higher level.  Seeing the minuscule, the obscure or the overlooked sometimes can enlighten you to new thoughts, new ideas and a new way of seeing things.  The beauty enthralled me to the point that for the rest of this sunshiny day, I chased shadows.

A Different Perspective

  I have been noticing that Nycto, the young cat, has been taking an awful lot of naps beneath the Satsuma tree.  At any given time (even during rainstorms), the crazy feline can be found snoozing away in the mulch.  I pondered this situation especially the part about those rainstorms.  (Why would a cat sleep outside in the rain?)  But back to my pondering.  What is the allure of lazing about in this particular spot? I know that cats have a tendency to pick a spot for naptime and will use the area for a few weeks before moving but this cat has done this since we found her a little over a year ago.  Why? Why here?

  Well, there is no better way of discovering something than by just doing it.  I got down on my knees next to the cat and, after reassuring her that all was fine, laid down next to her.  She seemed curious about my actions but made no effort to scamper from her bed.  She would share.  So, I laid there trying to find that elusive allure of the spot.  What was it?  I flipped over and stared up.  Well, that is pretty!  I guess perhaps Ms. Nycto loves flowers!

  A group of Gloriosa Lilies had decided to grow right next to the Satsuma tree and were intermingled with the citrus leaves.  Their bright green leaves contrasted sharply against the dark citrus leaves and the bright reds and yellows of the blooms set up a showy exhibit!  Wow! This was gorgeous!

  Now I know that the blooms are not there year round like the cat is but at least for now her view is spectacular!  Is this why Ms. Nycto has chosen the spot for her beauty rest?  I have no clue but, hey, I can certainly understand the appeal during the summertime!  Sometimes things need to be seen from a different perspective to be fully appreciated. Happy dreams, Nycto!

Smile. Beauty abounds.

  The last week has proven to be one of cold nights and breezy, cool days.  Michael and I prepared the garden, pets and house the best we could and settled in for the long haul.  No problem.  Our weather here on the Bayou is not nearly as harsh as our neighbors to the north.  We get freezes but not subzero temperatures and we get sleet or even a dusting of snow but not several feet.  Needless to say, our preparations never involve too much work.  The fall garden has quickly turned into a winterized plot with the cabbages, broccoli and mustard greens braving the cold quite well.  All other plants have been housed within the confines of the well-built greenhouse and shall there reside until springtime comes.

  What does surprise me is one lily that insists on blooming even though its counterparts have long succumbed to the cold.  Under the Black Gum tree, a lone Gloriosa Lily spews forth bloom after bloom regardless of weather.  Its bright red and yellow flowers are a welcome sight among the drab browns and greys of winter.  Each time I take Ms. Ez out for her daily run, these six-inch blooms make me smile.  They are offshoots of Pop's lilies.  He always said they were some of his favorites and I have to agree with him.  I think he would be proud that mine are doing so well.

  The Gloriosa Lily is considered an invasive species and if left unchecked, they soon multiply enough to be a nuisance.  Not so here. Mine have occupied one corner of the garden for the past thirty or so years without ever spilling out into parts unknown.  Even if they did, I can't say for sure that I would object.  To me, anything that brightens and beautifies this old world in any way can't be all bad.  The Gloriosas stay, I am happy and the flowers bloom.  Seems like a win/win situation.

Rain Forest on the Bayou!

  I am not sure just what has happened to the plants on the Bayou but my place is starting to resemble a rain forest with all of the overgrowth! Today, for the third time this spring, I had to prune the wisteria vine. It had another growth spurt and literally looked like one huge mound of vines.  Traipsing under the arbor had become rather treacherous since it sits right next to the Frog Pond.  Any number of snakes might have lurked in the cool darkness under the vines.  Being tired of fighting my way through the mass of vines, I wielded the snips to entanglement!  An hour later, I had a huge pile of rubbish to carry down to the trash heap. The wisteria is not the only plant that needs a haircut, though!  The roses and jasmine are about to take over the house!  Help is needed quickly!!  The garden, in general, is fast becoming overcrowded!

  Late this evening, I noticed that the Gloriosa Lilies had taken over an entire section of the Rose Garden.  These things were covered with their most unusual blooms.  The reds and yellows contrast nicely with the bright green of their leaves.  I love these plants as they were favorites of Pop's.  He had gotten a bulb from one of his friends and babied it until he was able to share the plants.  His grew to nigh on ten feet tall and were always covered with blooms. Mine, on the other hand, have always been smaller with fewer blooms until this year.  Now, they are living up to their name!  Glorious!  The bud of the lily hangs downward but once the petals open, they reach for the sky.  It almost looks like the bloom opens entirely backwards!  When first open, they are yellow with touches of red making the blooms look like flames but as they age, the petals darken to a deep red.  On one plant there can be quite the variety of blooms.

  The Gloriosa Lily is a climbing lily.  Unlike most climbing plants, the tendrils do not form on the vine but rather on the ends of the leaves.  If you look carefully in the picture, you can see the nice curl that grasps ahold to a trellis or nearby plant.   Mom used to always say if you stood by the plant long enough, the tendrils would attach themselves to you!  I fully believe this as they have quite a grip! This is just another interesting point about the Gloriosa that makes it a fine addition to the garden!

 


 

Loving my Gardens!

Every day, I take several hikes around the garden.  Sometimes, it is to see what chores need to be done, sometimes, I walk to ponder some problem but most of the time, I just amble about looking at what is growing there!  My gardens make me happy when I see them flourishing!  This year, however, things look a mite bleak.  With the warm weather, I had planted early.  Things were starting to pop up everywhere and I thought for sure that the plants were going to thrive.  Then during the first week of April...grasshoppers!  Millions of the baby Eastern Lubber grasshoppers hatched out and devoured my entire garden in a matter of hours!  The beautiful squash plants were gone!  The bean plants eaten!  Even the potato plants were damaged!  The vegetable garden does not look so nice after this attack!

Still, today, as I wandered the pathways, I found beauty.  I decided to stick to the path through the flower gardens!  The Day Lilies are trying their best to put out new blooms.  The same grasshoppers had eaten all of the first attempts but now...blooms!  One of my favorites is a pale yellow Day Lily that my sweet daughter-in-law, Joanna, gave to me!  I am so happy to see this has survived the buggy onslaught!

Just a bit further down the path, the Deutzia Scabra is covered with fluffy white blooms!  The softly sweet aroma made me hesitate a bit near this bush.  As I stood looking at the feathery white fronds, I thought of the farm.  Mom and Pop had the original of this bush..mine is a cutting from theirs.  I thought of how many of my plants originated in other gardens.  This makes each that much more special...memories are tied to these plants!

My walk took me on the little wood bridge over what used to be Puddlepond.  My dear little pond had met its demise through a hapless accident with a pitchfork and a cottonmouth moccasin. Since the plastic liner had acquired several unfixable holes, I turned this pond into the new herb garden!  It is working out well and the plants are  actually quite happy as the holey liner holds just enough moisture!  The herbs all look healthy so I am guessing that grasshoppers do not eat herbs!

On the fence, the Confederate Jasmine is in its last stages but the Gloriosa Lilies are beginning to take up the slack.  The red lilies contrast quite nicely against the white jasmine.  These both are hand-me-down plants..the jasmine from my Grandparents and the Gloriosa Lilies from Mom and Pop.

I continued my stroll until just before dark.  Both dogs, Ezzy and Sunny, decided it was time to go inside for their supper so that ended my garden escape.  Well, almost..with the windows open, I can still smell the sweet scent of the jasmine and roses one the Bay breeze!   Oh, how I love my gardens!!!

Hand-me-downs

The other day I received an email from my cousin that started me thinking about all of the plants in my yard that were "hand-me-downs". Plants the were given as seeds, cuttings or just simply "given". Some of my plants actually have been handed down for generations from family to family or from neighbor to neighbor. The Night Blooming Cereus that I wrote about in the post titled "Night Gardens" is one of those plants. It has been in our family for several generations now and I am quite sure it will be for many more.

In this e-mail, my cousin was remarking about Resurrection Lilies. These are quite remarkable lilies that just seem to pop up where you least expect them after a summer rain. They are always a welcome sight in any yard! This brought about a round of e-mails in our family describing different lilies that have the same endearing quality of surprising yard owners with a bit of beauty. My sister and I fondly remembered the "Naked Lady" lilies that would bloom outside the bathroom window in our childhood home. Oh what gorgeous hats these ladies had and what giggly fun she and I had announcing their arrival in our yard. In our day..ahem..it was almost taboo to say such words! We had a great uncle that would never call them such but would rather refer to them as "Burlesque Ladies". Maybe that was supposed to be more gentlemanly. The actual name of these lilies is Guernsey Lilies or Nerine Lilies although some folks even call them Spider Lilies. I suppose as with anything, a name is just a name.

Then there are the Gloriosa Lilies that Dad had growing in another garden. These tall gangly plants have the most showy blossoms that open first as yellow then, as they age over the days, turn to a wonderful cherry red. They can reach almost eight feet tall and have tons of beautiful blooms. Gloriosas do need something to climb on and will grasp anything within reach to use as support. They put on a stunning display all summer and have no problem sharing a garden space with other plants. I also have some of his Purple Phlox. My dear sister was kind enough to share hers with me after Katrina swiped mine. These were always some of his favorites.

I have a plant from my grandfather that I call the "Pink Unknown" simply because I have never found a decisive name for it. (If anyone wants to inform me of the true name, I would gladly pass it along.) Several people have told me that it is a Shrimp Plant, this I know is not accurate as I have grown those, too. I have been told it is a Pineapple Flower which does not seem correct simply because it bears no resemblance to a pineapple as far as I can see. Then the name Pine Cone Plant popped up..well..maybe but I sort of like the "Pink Unknown" until I find the proper name.

All in all , most of the plants in my yard are shared plants. My dad used to tell me to share my plants and that would make mine grow better..and obviously it does! Not to mention, if by chance I lose the original plant I can always replenish my stock simply by visiting a neighbor, friend or family member that was on the receiving end of a gifted plant. So give a plant or two..watch yours flourish..gain a gardening friend in the process. Sounds like a win-win situation to me!