Our main cluster of Hippeastrum lilies that I planted around the base of our orange Peacock trees.

Every Easter, just like clockwork, our orange Hippeastrum lilies burst into bloom. For this reason, I like to plant them in a clump, because what is more pretty than a whole cluster of blooming flowers?

We love the salmon pink of these flowers! And how they grow as a cluster at the top of each stem.

I don’t know how the flowers sense the season, and I won’t try to understand it; we simply appreciate the timing of the flowers, despite this region not having specific seasonal changes, and know that these lilies mean Easter is around the corner.

Some of the plants are still sprouting. They seem to appreciate the mulch produced by the peacock trees above, which since they produce bean pods, I guess are considered leguminous plants – which equals “good” for compost! I think.

Like all lilies, these flowers grow from bulbs. I transplanted them from a sunnier section of the garden that I wanted for our veggies (and the pumpkins have thrived there!), but despite my best efforts at unearthing all the bulbs, a few new plants have popped up since the transplant. Bulbs can be sneaky that way. I don’t know if they grew from a remnant of roots or from a tiny bulb that I missed.

Another photo of the cluster of lilies just because they look so happy!

I have noted, however, that certain creatures like living around these plants. One in particular creeps me out – the blind snake. It looks like a shiny, long worm, but moves sinuously like a snake. I haven’t taken a photo of it yet because I don’t really want to look at it longer than I need to…

Look! Even the ants like the lilies – well, the pollen, anyway…

In spite of this, I do intend to maintain a few groupings of these lilies. All creatures have their role and place, and should be left to do whatever they were designed to (unless they pose a danger). Besides, we love that they remind us that Easter is around the corner. So, whether you celebrate Easter as a day of bunnies and chocolate eggs, or as a Christian holiday, we’d like to wish you a Happy Easter!

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