Monday, April 6, 2009

The lilies

Soon enough, they will fill the roadsides.
For, already the sweet and succulent apple-green leaves are dense and hurriedly growing, ready to cover anything unable to outrun it--the fast feet of Daylilies.
Not that I don’t love them,
wait for them,
stand and stare at their velvety orangeness--
miss them when their day of beauty has passed.
But, bright and bold as they are, they’ve moved in and made themselves at home in a place not their own.

Yellow Trout-lily, Erythronium americanum

The waking woods are home to those more quiet.
Where, seeking the filtered light reaching the forest floor, the tiniest of lilies peeks from beneath the dried leaves of winter with nodding head, on delicate stem barely ankle high.

Trout-lily leaves

Trout-lilies, so named for their spotted leaves resembling the markings on trout, cover the hillsides here, sometimes in large colonies of one hundred plants or more.
And share a time with the great trees they stand beneath.
Hundreds of years, together.




Colony of White Trout-lily, Erythronium albidum


Bright white or yellow,
catching rays of this first spring light.
Theirs is a rich joy.
Old money.





Our Lily, Felis catus

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30 comments:

cestoady said...

Your very beautiful,elegant photos of Trout lilies does justice to the Trout, as does Schubert's Trout quintet.

Lily, what an apt name for such a beautiful cat, that does justice to the flower.

Sally said...

Wonderful, Nina... we used to call them "dog-tooth violets" as children. Thanks for the lovely photos, fe-Lily is lovely too!

Bernie said...

Nina your blog brings me so much pleasure, I can almost see and touch the lilies you describe. Again I thank you for sharing, I so appreciate your descriptions and pictures:) Bernie

Kathie Brown said...

I don't believe I have ever seen a trout lily before. I can't imagine such a mass of them. It would be a wonder to see them.

bobbie said...

Your Lily is pretty too.

abb said...

Trout lilies are one of my very favorite spring flowers.

Deborah Godin said...

I enjoyed this immensely! I didn't know about trout lilies, but I love the name and the speckled leaves! The pretty yellow flower put me in mind of glacier lilies - one of my favorite from my Rocky Mountain days. And what day isn't made better by a sweet cat face!

Grizz………… said...

One of these days I have to get a good start of trout lilies on my little bit of wooded hillside. There's a nice patch of them just down the road, mostly yellows with a few white ones mixed in.

Lovely post and photos…including F. catus.

Ginnymo said...

Beautiful photos! I'm learning a lot from you all on here. I don't know the names of many flowers at all. Thank you!!

Cicero Sings said...

No trout lilies here.

Your Lily is a beauty! Great colouring.

Rune Eide said...

Very fitting, both for the letter and the season.

Lene said...

Sign of springs makes me soooooo happy :) Beautiful Lilys, with or without fur ;)

Happy easter :)

mrsnesbitt said...

I can't wait to get planting!

Richard Lawry said...

What beautiful lilies. My "L" post is about a beautiful Lillie.

An Arkies Musings

possumlady said...

Remembering that you had a cat named Lily, I was hoping for a little sneak peak! Thank you!

I also have never seen a Trout Lily. Quite amazing.

Sylvia K said...

I had never seen this lily before, so glad you posted it! It is lovely! And your photos are terrific! Love kitty, Lily as well! Thanks for sharing! Have a great week!

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Beautiful post and excellent choice for L.

Tyra

THE GREENHOUSE IN TYRA'S GARDEN

Heather said...

I have never seen these lilies in bloom before - I'm not sure if they grow in Athens County. I hope to see some next weekend up at Conkle's Hollow. I know they grow there, as twice I've seen their leaves peeking from the soil there. It was only this year that I learned what those beautiful leaves belong to. And your little Lily cat, she's so sweet-looking. Thanks for showing her off!

Carol said...

Enjoyed reading this info...beautiful lilies...I had not seen a trout lily...

naturglede/Randi Lind said...

I love your lilies. Have a fun abc:)

Unknown said...

These pictures are SO beautiful! Especially Lilly the cat. She is a beauty! Happy Easter.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos. We don't have these flowers here in Sweden

anthonynorth said...

Nature is always so beautiful.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Beautiful photos, and poetic prose. Lovely "L", Nina.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Lovely lushious lilies so delicately photographed.

Tumblewords: said...

The lilies looks so fragile. Beautiful photos...Pretty Lily seems pettable!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What lovely photos of all of the lilies. The trout lilies look as soft as your your writing about them. I realize even though they are small they are tough as can be.

Carolina said...

Beautiful delicate flowers. And the cat Lily is a cute one ;-)

Jay said...

I love the white trout lilies, but your cat is beautiful, and so perfectly framed!

Liv said...

Signs of spring is always a pleasure. Your Lilies are beautiful, but unknown to me. I don't think they grow here where I live, in Norway.
Have a nice Easter!