Bulbs - Spider Lily (Flowering Surprise, Lycoris radiata)
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  (August) Now it's my turn to be surprised ,by where I planted the "Surprise Lilies" in the yard. When and how is the best way to move them to a more prominent location to enjoy their beauty?

  Surprise lilies, or Lycoris are gaining in popularity. They are easy bulbs to grow and enjoy. You can move them either when the flowers begin to fade, or when the foliage appears next season. Either time gives you a good idea of where the bulbs are, since they don't last long all season in the garden.

  (October) What are those red spidery-looking flowers with brownish stems and no foliage that are popping up everywhere this time of year? They look like they grow from bulbs, but they also seem to spread to new areas of my garden each year without any intervention, and I did not think bulbs would do that. Are they weeds or desirable volunteers? What, if anything, should I do about them?

  These mystery flowers are actually commonly called surprise lilies. They are Lycoris species, and are members of the amaryllis family. They are a bulb, and were planted by someone, some time, but they can multiply. Think about the rocks you remove from your garden, and the next time you plant, there are more. If they are popping up in undesirable locations, then consider moving them. The two seasons they can be moved are now -- after they finish flowering, or when the strap like foliage is up. These plants are unusual in that there are two seasons of growth -- foliage first, then flowers.

  (November) Early this fall two long-stemmed pink "Naked Ladies" came up in an area of my lawn which was often mowed year round. There are a great many "Spider Lilies" scattered across the lawn and I suppose that the "Naked Ladies" had no chance to blossom on account of the mowing. Since the blossoms and stems withered away, no leaves have arisen as they do on "Spider Lilies". Should I have expected leaves to come up at this time? If not, when should I expect to see the growth?

  Lycoris squamigera produces the large trumpet shaped pink blooms, commonly called Naked Ladies. This is by far the most common of the Lycoris, and the easiest to grow. It also blooms reliably every season-provided the foliage is not mowed down when it is up and growing. The large strap like foliage appears in the early spring, then disappears completely in July. Then, like magic, the pink flower spike bursts forth in August. After bloom, the stalk dies down. Lycoris radiata -the red flowering surprise or spider lily has a different season of growth. The small, narrow strap-like blue-green leaves emerge typically in the fall, and die away in early spring. Then seemingly out of nowhere in August through September, the 15" tall spikes emerge from underground, topped with a spidery open red flower. After the flowers fade, the leaves emerge again and persist until spring producing food for next year's flowering. Since you aren't mowing while this one is actively growing, you aren't hurting its flowering chances. Talk to the mower, and get them to avoid the foliage while it is up, and you should have flowers on both each season.

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