This clump of ginger lilies is in bloom.
Spider Lily Flowers
Oxblood Lily in bloom in my friend’s gardens
Friends it is just plain hot, and they say this heat could last all week. So what am I doing in my garden? Watering, watering and watering plus in early morning a few necessary chores. But in spite of the heat my fragrant white ginger lilies are blooming, and because of this they like lots of water. I really cannot say enough about these plants. My clump is about eight feet around and four feet tall, and every stalk will have a bloom. Tough as nails, mine are in filtered shade, and other than a spring application of fertilizer they are care free and even when not in bloom their foliage is course and attractive. My early spider lilies are blooming, but my friend Louise had some in bloom in her garden 2 weeks ago. The big problem is that they some times take several years after they are planted before they will bloom. They love high shade and well drained conditions and can survive for years with no care. Besides red, they also come in white and yellow, but I must admit I have never seen a mass of these colors in a Birmingham garden. By the way, their foliage will appear after they finish flowering.
While I have never grown oxblood lily, my friends D.D and Mike, have them in bloom in their garden now. Since it is a member of the amaryllis family, it likes well drained soil and is an old fashioned plant that is more popular in the hill country of Texas than our area. Even though red is not my favorite color in my garden, I cannot wait to add a clump in the spring.
So while outdoor gardening is minimal for me now, it amazes me how some plants defy this heat and bloom.