#crapemyrtles

[bethestaryouareradio]

Naturally Naked

“Nature loves to hide.” Heraclitus

In the winter, these ladies are wrapped in lush green manteaus that glisten in the rain. When warmer weather commences in late spring, their coats turn brown and eventually dry out. This is when we pull off their straps, leaving them lumpy and bumpy, hiding in plain sight. Sitting silently, they endure all measure of inconspicuousness. Then a sudden surprise transpires as they push their long slender necks skyward, shimmering in the summer sun.

Amaryllis belladonna–magic lily, resurrection lily, surprise lily–the stunning Naked Ladies have arrived! Just as most perennials in the garden have taken their final bow, these breathtaking bulbs fill my orchard and garden with their picture-perfect pink flowers. What began with the gift of a single bulb many years ago, has metamorphosed into a fabulous field of dreams because every season I dig up a few bulbs to plant in other areas.

Amaryllis belladonna is the botanical name of the flower, “Naked Lady”. Belladonna means “beautiful lady” in Italian. These plants are called Naked Ladies because of their unique bloom pattern. In the winter, the bulbs produce a bounty of beautiful, shiny green leaves like the leaves of agapanthus. Those leaves wither and die in spring around the same time that the strappy leaves of daffodils are browning. With so many bulbs, it takes me a while to remove and compost the dead leaves. With the leaves gone, dirt-colored bulbs resemble rough turtle shells as their rounded heads form clusters. In August, single stems sprout from the ground. Finally, flowers emerge at the top of the stems giving them a striking appearance as if they’re "naked" because they are standing alone without leaves.

Here are some key things to know about Naked Ladies:

I adore my Naked Ladies for filling my landscape with their distinctive, eye-catching blooms, and their ability to thrive and naturalize with minimal maintenance. Nature hides their beauty when only the bulb is visible. They then sprout as my naturally naked summer stunners.

My favorite showy summer tree is the crape myrtle. Lagerstroemia, native to Asia, provides year-round interest and is a popular choice in gregarious garden design. Here’s why I recommend crape myrtles.

Because of the combination of a long flowering period, beautiful foliage, gorgeous naked bark, and adaptable nature, the crape myrtle is my beloved tree.  

Nature may like to hide but with the naturally naked Amaryllis belladonnas and Lagerstroemias in full bloom in my garden, the curtain has been pulled wide open and the spectacle is a showstopper.

Read the Lamorinda Weekly:

Press Pass: https://www.vapresspass.com/2024/09/09/naked-ladies-and-other-summer-show-offs/

Happy gardening. Happy growing.

For more gardening advice for all seasons, check out Growing with the Goddess Gardenerat https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 which was just honored as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her newest children’s picture book, Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer!, from the series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com 

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[goddessgardener]

Naked Ladies and Summer Show-Offs!

“Nature loves to hide.” Heraclitus In the winter, these ladies are wrapped in lush green manteaus that glisten in the rain. When warmer weather commences in late spring, their coats turn brown and eventually dry out. This is when we pull off their straps, leaving them lumpy and bumpy, hiding in plain sight. Sitting silently, they endure all measure of inconspicuousness. Then a sudden surprise…

[david6of7]

Crape Myrtle

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[rumeko]

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[david6of7]

Crape Myrtle

Photography by David Velez

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