Shhhhhhhh! Naked Ladies!!!

What's in a name? What do you call these fantasy like flowers that seem to spring from nowhere this time of year? They actually do have foliage but it comes up earlier and dies down so these beauties do seem to pop up magically. Hence, one of the names bestowed upon them--Magic Lilies. Also Fairy Lilies, Surprise Lilies, and my all time favorite--Naked Ladies. Aunt Lina had several clumps of them and naturally I had to have some. She told me that calling them "Naked Ladies" was not genteel but I could if I whispered it! So there you have it. You can choose your name for them. Whatever it is, I am always cheered by their luscious pinkness, their scent, and their ability to thrill me with their sudden appearance.

The Stone Steps leading down into The Fairy Garden

This is one of my favorite spots. I know, I say that about all of them, but I mean it, this one rates way up there! It's secluded, it's quiet, it's whimsical, and of course, a little magical. This is where I would go to plan the different seasons of The Rose Garden, where I would draw my designs, where I felt inspired. This is where I would go to totally relax and breathe and just be. I haven't had time to "just breathe" lately but am planning on getting there again. In fact, I think I will have my afternoon coffee there. Might as well start breathing today.

The Magical Stepping Stones

These are the stepping stones that start you on the path around the pond where you end up going down more stone steps into The Fairy Garden. I love these pink surprise lilies and every year after they bloom I separate them and spread them to other parts of the garden. I remember when I first planted them on either side of the magical stepping stones--now I can divide them! So exciting! I consider them part of my heirloom garden collection because the first ones came from Aunt Lina. [Where else??]

and more Zinnies!

The Zinnie Bed

My brother did not like zinnias. I think they reminded him of little shacks with only a square patch of dirt for a yard and usually a few derelict zinnias popping up here and there. After all we lived in the country and rode the school bus and there were many such little houses in the South. I, on the other hand, loved zinnias. They were colorful, they were persistent, and they thrived in our summer heat. I also loved the little unpainted wooden shacks with the chickens running around, the barefooted children, and the worn dirt paths leading to carefully tended vegetable gardens. Mother liked them too and we would always plant some much to Merrill's dislike. He sarcastically called them "zinnies".

When I knew that Megan would need fresh flowers for her wedding I immediately planted a huge bed of zinnias. They weren't quite ready to use, they were in full bloom a day or so later. Did my brother have anything to do with that? I put him in charge of the weather and he did very well--only a shower at the very end which cooled everything off and made the zinnies pop out almost the very next day! Coincidence? There are no coincidences! So what do You think?

left together as "R's".