Surprise Lilies

August 6 through 10

In my gardens I call the passionate pink lilies that seemingly shoot up and bloom over night, "Surprise Lilies". Liza Dalby knows them as Naked Ladies. Also called "Belladonna lilies, Resurrection lilies, Joker lilies" and I am sure if I sought out all the regional names there would be many.
Lycoris squamigera is their botanical name.

I have always thought of the Surprise Lily as an August flower. They shoot up when it is hot and dry in my gardens. I was very surprised this year to see them in bloom the second week of July.
Dalby writes of the equinox flower.
I do not know anything about this cousin of the Surprise Lily.

So often when I read an essay I am inspired to learn more. I do research.
Thank goodness for the internet.

I keep a little note pad near by when I am reading this book. I write myself little reminders and write down the inspirations that come while reading.

I have noticed Dalby mentions "Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon" often. I looked in the index and counted eight times she has referred to this classic.
I have never read it.

I did a bit of research and found a new translation is being published by Penguin Classics. It's release date is October, 2007. I want to read this book.
My daughter told me it is often used as a jumping off point for writing exercises.
That sounds fun.

I would like to begin this "Pillow Book" in November. Our book two. I think it also will be a book that inspires. It inspired Liza Dalby.

What do think?

Rotted weeds turn into fireflies

July 21 through 25

I have read this essay many times.
Lightning bugs do seem to appear from decomposing grasses.

I did not know fireflies are not west of the Rocky Mountains.
It surprised me.
I would have thought at least a pair would have traveled over in a covered wagon.
Vacationers could easily have a few in their picnic basket.

I watch the fireflies every evening. Often I walk at dusk and watch the fireflies light up through out the neighborhood. I remember when I was a child the neighborhood boys would catch them and put them in jars. Some would wear the lights as rings.

I keep going back to this essay because I feel so connected to the Japanese and Liza Dalby. Something so simple as a firefly can bring that oneness.

Crickets come into the walls

July 11 through 15

I have a set of brass crickets that come out in July.
They sit on the hearth with the drying camomile.
I have crickets in the gardens.

The boot cricket is old.
It sits by the front porch.

I found a reader's Journal.
It has a place to write about the books I read.
I wrote a bit about East Wind Melts the Ice.
I have been inspired by this book.
Each essay has me thinking about my natural surroundings.

It seems to me the creatures in the natural world have a purpose.
Each leaf, each bug has a purpose.
They already are masters of themselves.