"PROFUSION OF EASTER LILIES"

 "Lilium longiforum"

Is called "Easter Lily"

only in the United States.

I was trying to figure out what was on the left of the lilies...the grill. I was thinking that was a monster on top but just realized it is the grill scraper! WHEW!

This native of Japan first began to be marketed in the U. S.

as Easter Lily in the 1930s.

And aren't we glad it was!!

These beautiful lilies don't even bloom at Easter.

Except in hot houses.

They bloom here in mid May.

Every Easter lily I have received, for years,

has been planted in my garden.

For years the deer have eaten every one that I planted.

That all changed when we fenced a small portion

of our yard, a few years ago.

 About three years ago, 

after spending Easter 

in Nashville, Tennessee,

we stopped at our local Kroger

for the obligatory bread and milk

before arriving home.

There was a cart by the door

filled with dead or dying Easter Lilies.

I pushed that cart right into the store,

and added my bread and milk.

I checked out with twelve shriveled plants

that were definitely on their last leg stalk.

A few hiding on the other side of the grill

I have since been blessed with the profusion

of Easter Lilies you see here!

I hope you enjoyed seeing them.

~~~~

I have been MIA for a while. I have been trying to do some catch up work in the yard before it gets so hot here. Tomorrow's heat index is supposed to by 105+ so this is what I have been doing.

 Some of you may know that we have Formosa Azaleas planted around the foundation of our home. They were about chest high on me.

 They really don't need to be that large around a foundation and 

 it was an error on our part. Since they only bloom on new growth they will just get larger and larger is left unchecked. Since there are about sixty surrounding the foundation we can't move them.

The fence is four feet tall so that gives you an idea of the height of these azaleas. We do enjoy letting them grow unfettered in open spaces. This is their natural tendency. These have been left alone for more than twenty-five years.

Our solution? We cut the ones near the house back every few years, they come back quickly and will have beautiful blossoms in the spring. However, in the midst of my yard work, I came across this little fellow.

Now you know why I was freaked out by the scraper on the grill!!

He was drinking water off the plastic. I saw him a couple of times over the next couple of days and remarked to  Bob that I had a pet snake.

One morning I was looking out our bathroom window and saw him scampering across the straw. I had never seen him move quickly and looked to see what was up. He was in a confrontation with two, YES TWO, green snakes just about his size. One of the green snakes was aggressive toward my pet.

WELL, I am here to tell you, ONE little snake is a pet. Three,  and they are suddenly the enemy!!!  NO, I didn't kill them, but my next pet definitely will have four legs!

~~~~~

So that's what I have been doing. What have you been doing?

Please leave a  comment and be sure to come back, I will be posting a giveaway next week.

I will be partying here, please join me.
What's It Wednesday 
Outdoor Wednesday 
Crafty Spices's Wordless Wednesday 
Thursday Favorite Things Bloghop 
Open House Party Thursday