Inside: Sadly, my surprise lilies didn’t flower this summer. But knowing they should be OK next year is a comforting thought in a season of change. ~
Some years, certain plants in my flowerbeds thrive while others struggle. The next year, it could be the other way around. But I’ve always been able to count on my surprise lilies to do exactly what God designed them to do.
In the spring, their foliage pops up, looking similar to the daffodil greenery that appears around the same time. Unlike the daffodils, though, the surprise lilies don’t bloom in this season. Over the next several weeks, their leaves grow—storing up energy for future flowers—and then die back.
Several months later, stark stalks spring up where the foliage used to be, topped in short order by the loveliest pale pink lilies imaginable.
In my yard, some surprise lilies bloom in the latter half of July, while others—including the ones in the front flowerbed—show up a few weeks later. I know this because over the years, they consistently showed up in the background of the first-day-of-school photos I used to take of my daughters.
This year, there were no back-to-school pictures, and no surprise lilies either.
What Happened?
I’d actually forgotten about them until I saw a lone clump at a neighbor’s house. As I gazed at the blank spots in my flowerbeds where the lilies normally pop up, I remembered a few critical facts.
We had a very early spring this year, followed by a late snow that fell right when the surprise lily foliage was growing. The damage was unsightly, so I cut back the spent leaves sooner than usual.
Either they didn’t have time to store up enough blooming energy before I cut them, or the snow itself stunted the growth of the blooms this year.
Whatever the case, I was deeply disappointed. These unique plants have bloomed faithfully every year since I dug up the bulbs near the road by my childhood home and planted them in my yard. (I also had my first-ever encounter with poison ivy during that process, which makes it stand out in my mind even more.)
The Deeper Story
I missed the consistent presence of those pale pink flowers in a season already marked by transitions and new normals. Lilly is now married and living in Northwest Arkansas. Molly will graduate from college—also in Northwest Arkansas—next May. And only God knows where she will be at this time next year.
I’m truly happy about the recent developments and future possibilities in my girls’ lives. Somehow, though, the empty nest feels different this year. Emptier, somehow. Lonelier. And definitely quieter.
At times, it feels like I’m failing to bloom just like the surprise lilies.
Fortunately, Google assures me the lilies should be fine next year. I’m already hoping for no late snows, and you can be sure I will resist every urge to cut back the ugly spent foliage too soon.
As for Me…
At the same time, learning that these sweet plants can bounce back after an off year is oddly comforting as I think about my actual life. I’m in a period of adjusting, for sure, but I’m guessing I’ll find my way forward just like generations of moms before me.
I’m thankful that in my current state of unsettledness—as well as during any season you may find yourself in—my favorite Bible verse still applies: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
As my time outside often does, this summer of gardening has reminded me of a few simple truths. Seasons change, landscapes change, and gardeners change too.
Change is hard, even when it’s planned and desired. But what a blessing to remember that the God who never changes is with us through every high and low, every pause and pivot, and every drought and flood.
• • •
How do you feel about change? Has a lack of blooms on any of your plants (in the house or outside) ever evoked emotion in you? Please share in the comments.
♥ Lois
P.S. I’m linking up this week with InstaEncouragements and Let’s Have Coffee.
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22 comments
I love when nature brings about a lesson. I love how you’ve interwoven the lilies with this life lesson.
Thank You so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend. I’m so happy you’re here.
I love those lessons from nature too, Paula! So thankful for you and your linkup! ❤️
So thought-provoking, Lois, thank you! I was reading a devotion by Amy Carmichael this week about the Lord going behind us, and how He gathers up what seems dropped, wasted, lost, left behind—and also gathers us up as we’re weary and lagging. Praise the Lord that even in change when things seem out of place, God is always right where He always is, never changing.
That is definitely a wonderful reason to praise the Lord, Bethany! I love the idea of God going behind us and gathering up what seems lost or wasted–and also us when we’re worn and weary. Thank you for sharing that comforting thought, dear friend.
Lois, this helps. Thank you.
Seasons of disappointment don’t last forever. Flowers will bloom, fruit will blossom again. Maybe differently than before. Sometimes everything just needs a pause and a reset.
Us, too.
Happy first days of October, friend.
So true, Linda. The part I’m learning these days is that “maybe differently than before” is OK and under God’s direction too. Happy October to you as well!
I love the way you connected the missing lilies with the changes in your own life. Sometimes a season of not blooming isn’t a sign that something is wrong, but simply part of the process of gathering strength for what comes next.
Oh, Lisa … thank you so much for sharing your perspective on this. It’s truly encouraging!
This is beautiful. I have a hard time with change, but knowing that God knows the bumps and unexpecteds (which are not unexpected to Him) gives me a lot of peace. Sometimes change is good. And the fact that He never changes is even better. Visiting from the Sweet Tea & Friends linkup.
Amen to all that you said, Jennifer. Good to hear from you this week! ❤️
Lois, you answered a long conundrum for me, I saw clumps of those lilies here and there and always wondered what they were called and how they came to have no foliage, now I know!!
Thank you for sharing about your current season and the sweet lesson connected to your surprise lilies. I have endured a very long season of change which caused me many days of darkness and confusion, but also a new understanding of blooming. Only my lesson comes from an unusual lilac bush blooming in the winter instead of the normal April-June! Yes, lessons abound from creation!
Donna, I’m glad I cleared up your conundrum! 🙂 I am so sorry for the season of change that you have been experiencing. I hate that it has caused you many days of darkness and confusion, but also what a blessing that it also brought a “new understanding blooming.” From a lilac tree flowering in the winter, no less! Wow!
Our gardens are such sweet parables for our real lives!
I’ll be waiting to hear about those pretty pink flowers next year—and maybe my dahlias will follow suit?
I hope so, Michele! ❤️
This >> “I’m thankful that in my current state of unsettledness—as well as during any season you may find yourself in—my favorite Bible verse still applies: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).” Amen! Unsettledness. That is what change brings. That uneasy feeling of not being sure. However, our God is never unsettled. He knows exactly what today and tomorrow and the next day holds. He is fully aware of every change. And that settles well over my soul! Thank you, sweet friend!
Oh Joanne … what a comfort to remember that “our God is never unsettled.” You’re right … that is a settling thought for our souls, for sure. ❤️
Those lilies are pretty! We’re trying to figure out what to do along our fence line. We’ve planted wildflowers the last couple of years, but the tall ones overshadowed the small ones, even when we tried to separate them so the smaller ones would get more sunshine. We didn’t plant any this last spring, but we had a row of black-eyed Susans pop up. Not my favorite flowers, but they were cheery. We’d like to plant annuals and/or bushes so we don’t have to plan that area every year.
I think our kids’ college years are probably one of the longest seasons of change. We don’t really feel like it’s over until they’re married and/or settle into a job after they graduate.
But I was also thinking, as I read, that every change eventually becomes a new normal. Until the next change. 🙂
I understand what you’re saying about the wildflowers, Barbara. I have a patch of four o’clocks that sort of took over everything in their part of my yard this year. They reseeded abundantly more than ever before, and although I tried to thin them out a bit, I didn’t pull out nearly enough! I know what you mean about black-eyed Susans too. I didn’t used to like them them much either until they were one of the few things growing in our yard when we moved here. I hope you figure out what to do along your fence line. And I hear you about the ongoing changes until the kids get married or settle into a job after college. I have thoughts about this current season of parenting that I need to turn into a blog post pretty soon! It is comforting to hear the experience of moms like you who are a bit further down the parenting road!
I love this analogy of the lilies failing to bloom, Lois. It’s comforting to know that they can still bounce back and so can we from those unsettled times. I’m sure it’s a hard adjustment that neither of your daughters live nearby. I love your favorite verse. And this truth is truly encouraging – “But what a blessing to remember that the God who never changes is with us through every high and low, every pause and pivot, and every drought and flood.” Love and blessings of strength and peace to you!
Thanks, Trudy! I’m thankful we can bounce back too. Maybe not as vigorously as the surprise lilies, but still enough. Love and blessings to you as well, dear friend.
“I’m thankful that in my current state of unsettledness—as well as during any season you may find yourself in—my favorite Bible verse still applies: ”
This describes it, change brings that “unsettledness” quicker than anything. I felt it with the lack of the garden. Some things did grow, but over all, everything was less. Reasons of course, but didn’t really matter. It still was felt more by what was missing.
That’s such a good way of putting it, Rosie … “It was felt more by what was missing.” So poignant. ❤️