Surprise lilies begin to bloom on Aug. 7, 2013, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
It’s that time of summer. Not the one where people shed their clothes, though that might be happening somewhere, too.
This is the magical moment when naked ladies, also known as surprise or resurrection lilies, simultaneously appear after being nearly invisible for the majority of the season.
These pink beauties are one of my favorite perennial flowers. What’s impressive to me is their ability to synchronize with others of the same variety throughout the city. So if you see one spot of surprise lilies blooming across town, you can be fairly certain that yours will be blooming, too.
Grown from bulbs, the spring foliage of surprise lilies, which is similar to a daffodil, disappears with the summer’s heat. The tall, slender flowers seemingly rise out of nowhere in late July or early August.
Magic lilies is another name given to these flowers, which is also appropriate. By whatever name you prefer, the blossoms do well in floral arrangements and are a bright spot in the garden just as the last stretch of summer begins.
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