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Mary's Toad Lilies

All summer the rock garden was full of Lily stalks that didn't bloom. I knew they were some kind of Lily due to the leaf structure. There must be 30-40 stalks. I've looked at them carefully numerous times, and last time I examined them I thought maybe Cala lilies, that would bloom later in the summer. Didn't happen. I saw some budding on them a few weeks ago, and then forgot about them being so busy the last few weeks. It's been raining all day here, and I saw that the bird feeder we had wedged between some of the rocks in the rock garden fell. It's not a permanent solution, and it fell once before. We're going to have cement it or use a base pole to secure it for Spring. I went out to pick it up, and was greeted by lots and lots of blooming Toad Lilies! What a surprise. These inherited gardens keep constantly surprising me. I've been through a full year's cycle now, and thought I'd seen everything. I don't remember these last year at this time. I was either too busy with the move and working, or they didn't bloom. I had intended to plant these in the shade garden at some point. I thought just 5 or 10 would be nice. I now have 30 or 40 blooming amongst the rocks! Such a lovely, abundant, Autumn surprise. My grandmother turned 99 this month. I am calling them "Mary's Toad Lilies" for her. She has had a stroke and cannot fully communicate, but she always took a great joy in nature, and I know she would love these Toad Lilies, and the subtle way their beauty catches you, and holds you in a tiny spell.




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  1. GigaSeptember 28, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    Mam teĹĽ je w swoim ogrĂłdku, ale nie o takich ĹĽywych barwach. Pozdrawiam

    ReplyDelete
  2. SherrySeptember 29, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    Giga, it's great that you have them as well! Would love to see a photo sometime.

    ReplyDelete
  3. elvira pajarolaSeptember 30, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    MAGIC indeed, your precious Lilies...!
    They look very exoticly; so very beautiful!!!!!

    I am convinced your sweet grandma loves your sweet idea about the name....!!!!!!

    ciao ciao elvira

    ReplyDelete
  4. RoseOctober 3, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    These are such lovely fall bloomers! How sweet to name them after your grandmother.

    I often have the same experience, seeing something come up and waiting for it to bloom to know what it is. Except that I'm the one who planted them:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousOctober 4, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    I often wonder if the current owners of my past garden had as much fun discovering each new thing that came up in the garden!

    ReplyDelete
  6. SherryOctober 5, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    Robin, I am sure they do. Maybe they have a blog out there somewhere!. Rose, haha! I bet I will be the same way. Elvira, thank you for your note. I feel she knows I think of her often.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MarijkeOctober 7, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    What a beautiful plant. It looks like an orchid.
    Lovely pictures.
    Gr. Marijke

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownOctober 7, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    Wonderful ! Greetings Andrzej.

    ReplyDelete
  9. SherryOctober 8, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    Thank you, Marijke and Pietrzyk!

    ReplyDelete
  10. SissyOctober 9, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    So lovely! I am wondering already if they are deer resistant??!

    ReplyDelete
  11. M. RekaOctober 10, 2011 at 12:30 PM

    These are such beautiful fall bloomers!

    Short Poems

    ReplyDelete
  12. SherryOctober 10, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Sissy, I believe they are, but not sure. Deer come out of the woods that borders the property, and they haven't eaten them yet. BUT that could be why I didn't notice them last year.. Marinela, agree!

    ReplyDelete
  13. JenniferOctober 11, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Jennifer@threedogsinagarden
    Happy 99th birthday to your grandmother! What a nice surprise to discover that you have so many toad lilies. They are quite magical looking flowers.

    ReplyDelete

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