Naked ladies

They have various names: naked ladies, surprise lilies, and their proper name, Lycoris squamigera. What they do around August 1st, regardless of the weather or how much rain we have had, is peek through the ground. Within days, they have lovely pink flowers on top of a slender stalk, bringing a smile to all who see them. The best part of the picture is that they come up year after year.

The thanks for their beauty really goes to the person that planted them. In my case, the enjoyment in the backyard happened in the early 1950s when Nolene Whiteside got a clothes dryer and was able to take down the clothesline poles. Where the poles had been located in the backyard, she planted the lilies, and for 55 years they have been bringing a smile every August.

Whether we are planting trees, planting lilies, or planting encouraging words, the real heroes in this life are the people who take time to make things better for the rest of us.