The gift that keeps on giving

For a person that loves flowers (as I do) the best gift they can receive is flowers that are planted and continue to return every year.

The flower above was given to me by Mrs Harris. She was in her eighties when she gave it to me and she only lived one more year. This is non-hardy surprise lily. It is planted in a pot and I put it in the attic over the winter, with no water. In early spring bring it back outside and start watering it. The greenery never showed this year so when it bloomed I was really surprised. Thought I had killed both pots Mrs Harris gave me. Her daughter lives next door and I am sure I could have gotten a new start, but would have hated to have to tell Gwen I had killed it.

This is absolutely the most gorgeous gladiolus bloom I have ever seen. I am fortunate to have 6 or 7 of these this year due to a very good blogging buddy, Mildred. Last year we exchanged a couple of gifts and this is one of the ones Mildred sent to me. I have glads in my yard, but the ones I already had are not this pretty.

I love remembering my friends when I walk through my flower gardens and see blooms that remind me of them. Definitely the gifts that keep giving.

I went to Asheville today to the Gallery of the Mountains located inside the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, North Carolina. I am so very excited that they are now carrying my greeting cards. If you are ever there please ask to see my cards (anything helps--HA!) If you have never been there, it is a real treat just to visit this historical inn.

Old Fashioned Surprise Lilies

Old Fashioned Surprise Lilies look like large leaf daffodils in early spring, but then they don't bloom. The greenery dies down and you kind of forget about them.

Then late summer they just shoot up these stems with such pretty blooms. No greenery at all. It is easy to forget about them, so if you are lucky enough to get any of these be sure and plant them in a flowerbed, or you might mow down the stem when it starts out of the ground.
They are just a little early this year. August is when I remember them blooming before.

I haven't been home much at all this past week. I did spend the night here on Thursday after getting off work at midnight. But then I was up early Friday to go keep Noah.

Then I went onto Rockwood from there (didn't have to work Friday evening),
to spend the night in Rockwood.

When Jimmy and pulled in the driveway today it seemed like
the surprise lilies were in every flowerbed.

This last one is the fullest, because it has been in the same place longer. These lilies don't like to be moved around much, and usually don't bloom the first year even though they do send up the greenery that year. Notice the 3 stems on this last one. The spotted leaves you see are Calla Lilies in the background. (Just in case there are inquiring minds.)

I got mine from John and Lindsey's first yard. I did share them at that time and have several friends that also get to enjoy these each year.

Surprise Lily

This is a non-hardy Surprise Lily. This has to be planted in a pot and taken in during the cold months. The good part about it is you put the pot in the dark and don't water it at all. Early spring bring it out to the light and start watering it. The green part stays all summer, until fall and you start the cycle again. I have 2 pots of these. They bloom off and on all summer. This was given to me by an 89 year old lady the year before she died.