Showing posts with label rain lily. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rain lily. Show all posts

Sunday, August 21, 2016

The Magic of Rain Lilies




Over 14" of rain in Austin over the past two weeks.

Fortunately we have not experienced flooding

with these recent rains, and the cooler than

normal temperatures have been a welcome relief

from the triple digits that are typical here in August.




What we have experienced,  just like magic,

 the sweet little zephyranthes

are doing what they do after a Texas rain.




Zephranthes, also known as a rain lily, prairie rain lily,

or fairy lily, are in the amaryllis family.

Here in central Texas we see them burst into bloom

after heavy rain storms such as we've recently experienced.





The grass like leaves produce the trumpet shaped flowers

after heavy rains.  The blooms begin to open at dusk and by

morning will be almost two inches across, lasting only a few days.





Rain lilies are native to this region 

and often seen in mass along roadsides

or in grassy meadows of parkland as seen above.  



The rain lilies in our herb garden

get full sun and with a layer of gravel 

above the soil, a well drained bed.

We get the pleasure of all three of the pastel colors.





More rain is predicted for the coming week.

It may be sometime before we see blue skies again.

Fortunately we have the magic of the rain lilies!


If you live in Zones 8 - 10,  you too can enjoy the magic.

Joining
 Dishing It and Digging It @ Life and Linda

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Z is for Zephyranthus



Z is for

Zephyranthus





Here in Austin, one can spot

colonies of these growing in open grassy fields or

grassy areas beside  sidewalks that run along city streets.

They spring from the ground after a rain.


~ Small ~ Sweet ~ Sturdy ~





Left to Mother Nature to tend them,

the bulbs which produce small, 

grass like leaves are no fuss.

~ No Watering ~ No Pruning ~





These bulbs, originally came from 

Mexico or Guatemala, but have spread

and naturalized through the south.

Cold hardy in zones 8-10, they

are related to Amaryllis.





The starry flowers can be pink to yellow to white.

The blooms last a day or two, but plants will rebloom numerous 

times spring through fall after rains that follow 

periods of drought or dry conditions.





~ Zephyranthus ~


Derived from the Greek god of the west wind,

Zephyus, meaning flower.





Rain Lily ~ Fairy Lily ~ Zephyr Lily ~

Rainflower ~ Magic Lily ~ Atamasco Lily

Actually not lilies at all, but in the Amaryllis family.





Congratulations to 

Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch



Miss Merri Mac and I will get your

Starbucks Gift Card  off to you this week.

Thank you to all who joined in the fun 

and left a comment on Miss Merri Mac's 

Adventures Celebrating the Golden Days of Fall.




The next Traveling Totes Series is December 15th.

You won't want to miss the generous give away

sponsored by Patti @ Pandora's Box.


Joining




Friday, August 21, 2009

Pink Zephyranthes Saturday




Zephyranthes-

Flower of West Wind

A Summer Haiku by Hyacinth


Dark clouds fill the sky

Sparkling droplets quench the thirst ~

New day of sweet blooms.

August 2009


Zephyranthes grandiflora bloom repeatedly in the summer, usually after a rain storm that follows very dry conditions.



Welcome to Pink Saturday hosted by Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound. A recent thunderstorm left a delicate pink surprise waiting for my discovery. I squealed with delight!

Happy Pink Saturday to all my friends!

Please click on "Comments" below to

leave a note to let me know

you stopped by today.






Then click here for more Pink Saturday Fun.