Rain Lilies Really Do Like Rain

Florida's afternoon rain pattern started in May this year rather than in the usual month of June. Since we have been in a severe drought now, for about umpteen years, the rain has been a welcomed and refreshing element in spring.

Rain lilies, Zephyranthes grandiflora are a no-nonsense little addition to the garden sporting erect, thin, green leaves visible all year long. When those first summer rains begin, towering just above the greenery, shoots several slender buds that open up for a day or two then disappear.

Needless to say, the lilies are blooming early this year.

As the rains continue the plant repeats the pattern consecutively creating more buds and blooms providing the prettiest patches of pink (they do come in white too) all over the garden. Their flowering ability must have something to do with the warm temps of the soil, too. It's a guess on my part but I'm figuring it that way because they don't bloom when it rains in the winter.

My initial rain lily came from my sweet neighbor across the street. She has given me sooooo many varieties of plants over the years. Love her.

As my rain lilies have multiplied I've been digging up the bulbs and transplanting them to every sunny spot that needs a little pick-me-up of pink.

As happy as I am that mine are more numerous than years prior... have a look at my neighbor's in the above photo. Since the middle of May hers have been putting on quite a show stretching about 100 feet across the entire front of her garden near the street side. I'm pretty sure I get to enjoy them more than she does because of where they are sited.

And to think she was so worried about them when the peacocks were daily trampling them this winter. You would never know it today.