Summer Catalog, Electric Storms and Rain Lilies

“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.” Mark Twain

The Summer sales season continues! A big thank you to all the customers who make this possible, without your support I would probably be facing down the inevitability of a government cubicle, with beige brown modular walls designed to calm and tranquilize. I have had some great feedback on the shipping of plants, thanks to Anya and my niece Gabrielle for packing the orders so carefully. If anything does arrive out of shape please let me know so I can do my best to make corrections. Still lots of great stuff available in the catalog, the fall planting season is coming so get those orders in.

Captured this great electrical storm crossing over the rock garden a few nights ago. It came rolling in just about dusk and you could both feel and see the strange glow in the air. It absolutely poured rain after and that was most welcome. The rain barrel on the patio is 65 gallons and almost empty, it was overflowing about two minutes into the rain storm.

I have been collecting Rain lilies, the genus Zephryanthes, for a while now. They have often been sporadic bloomers for me, and as the common name suggests they bloom after a good rain. Electric storms are pretty rare in the summer here in Western Oregon and thunderous downpours even more uncommon. I was so happy to see the effect in real time as within two days of the storm passing through the driveway clumps of Zephyranthes labuffarosa were in full bloom.

Zephyranthes labuffarosa following a summer thundershower

I’m going to quote the Pacific Bulb Societies page on the origin of this wonderful garden plant: Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea' (syn. Z. sp. 'Labuffarosa') was found and collected by Carl Schoenfeld (owner of Yucca Do Nursery) and John Fairey (owner of Peckerwood Garden) in the Sierra Chiquita in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The large flowers open in the afternoon and are variable from white to pink, also bicolors. Z. drummondii, Z. traubii and an unknown pink Z. species are found growing in the same area and Z. 'Labuffarosea' is suspected to be a natural hybrid of these species.

If you are not a member of the Pacific Bulb Society, I strongly recommend it as an invaluable source of information, and plant sharing.

I’m hoping the Mark Twain Quote runs true, as this is a shameless advertisement for the summer catalog, I have several species of Zephyranthes available in the summer availability list. If you are unsure of trying them, I can attest to them being quite hardy here, the selection above was evergreen down to 19 degrees this past winter, standing up to some of the heaviest rainfall we have seen here in awhile, as well as snow storms and then the following drought of summer. Given the right conditions, i.e a good summer rain storm, they are fantastic, fragrant bloomers. Order yourself some for your garden before we are all sold out!

Cheers,

Mark