John&Jacq~s Garden

Posted by Jacqueline on April 25th, 2009 in Our Garden

Update July 28, 2009:
Gosh, just found out that our ‘Hosta’ is actually Proiphys amboinensis, commonly known as Cardwell Lily. Read about its ID search here.

Without doubt, we’re truly excited in sharing this Easter joy. I had scheduled to write this post month-end as our monthly garden news, but just could not contain my joyous self any longer! Even John kept asking whether I’ve posted this beauty online here! :)

What a blessed Easter miracle! Our Hosta presented us with 2 gorgeous white flowers on Easter Sunday morning, April 12! So perfectly timed, and looking so pure and angelic as if to signify its resurrection from slumber and being completely alive with the spirit of Easter.

Even its image above as captured speaks volumes for me in that I see some Easter similarities – the pureness in the petals to indicate God’s unconditional love, and the ‘outstretched arms and head of the crucified Jesus’ as depicted by the flowers and bud. Do you see the semblance? I do, as shared in my other blog.

We’re definitely flabbergasted. Never before in the 7 years that we’ve been growing these Hosta plants have they ever shown any sign of blooming. For that matter, we didn’t even know that they do produce flowers until recently.

Just 12 days ago, it appeared as a teeny-weeny growth, so insignificant that we brushed it aside and refused to believe its existence. Especially so, when it was discovered on April Fool’s Day!

However, it begged to be seen, growing persistently larger each morning and drawing our attention and excitement. And, we monitored it closely with hopeful anticipation.

What an extraordinary surprise it presented us on Easter Sunday morning!

Such radiance and beauty! We’re struck dumb with awe so to speak.

To experience such rarity in our little garden paradise is truly blessed, indeed!

We thank and praise God for such marvels and wonders that really uplift our hearts in gratitude and joy!

This showy inflorescence (umbel) of striking white flowers is simply gorgeous with one or two appearing at a time, lily-like as the Agapanthus (African Lily).

The inflorescence is borne atop a 40cm long flowering scape that rise above the grass-green and beautifully furrowed, heart-shaped foliage, presenting a fabulous color contrast.

The flower head is about 15-18cm in diameter.

Each individual bowl-shaped flower (5.5cm in diameter) held at the tip of its 6cm long pedicel has six white petals, each measuring 3.5cm long. We did notice one particular flower that had seven petals though, somewhat unique as captured in the above photo!

Surrounded and cupped within the snowy white petals are some visibly seen yellow stamens. Very catchy!

Last count today, there were 8 flowers and 6 more buds to cheer us further! Earlier opened flowers are withering gracefully, looking shriveled and discolored to a tad off-white. I will be removing them shortly to conserve energy for the budding ones.

All in all, I think we’ll be enjoying them for another ten days or more! Wow…that will definitely be more than a month since the buds first appearance! How wonderful! Be keeping our fingers crossed! :D

Too bad, we’ve yet to nail its proper botanical name! :(

HAVE A JOYFUL AND BLESSED EASTER SEASON!!

You Might Also Like (using plugin: YARPP) :

• April 2011: Easter Joy in our tropical garden!
• Caribbean Spiderlily, another Easter 2009 garden surprise!
• Easter garden joy in April 2010
• Plant ID for Hosta look-alike? It’s Proiphys amboinensis!
• Colourful flowers in our garden, November 2009

Tags: flowering plants, foliage plants, green, indoor plants, our garden, outdoor plants, perennials, white, yellow