Nature plays a trick on us

Monday, 6/12

A couple of days ago we posted a picture of a white Asiatic lily bloom that was on an individual plant that has always produced colorful blooms. This was a puzzle, and we asked if anybody knew, botanically at least, what was the story here. (Thanks to those who responded to our questioning!) Imagine our surprise when we noticed a change in color of that white bloom this morning.

The color on Wednesday, 6/14

This transformation from white to faint coloring was not really expected, but has brought a great deal of interest. We had a long soaking rain yesterday, perhaps that had something to do with the change? It is going to be fun watching if further darkening of the color will take place. Nature is amazing, be it the complex cyclical changes of the seasons to the simple change in color of an intricate bloom.

So where did the white lily come from?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve been blessed with lovely Asiatic lilies blooming recently. Today a white bloom showed up. We’ve never seen one before on our plants, and can’t figure where it came from. A quick search found a reference to heat affecting coloration, however all of the blooms have been exposed to the same environment.

Any botanists or horticulturists  out there have an idea why we have this pure white bloom? This is the third year of blooms for these Asiatic lilies.

May morning in the garden

It’s only 40 degrees F on a sunny mid-May morning. Still there is Nature’s beauty on display.

Red young growth on the rose is due to the presence of anthocyanins. This coloration protects the bush from UV rays .

Chives flower

Asiatic lily thinking about blooming

The first rose bloom of the season

 

River ford now closed

Before the ford was closed

The 10 acres for Kennedy Park in Shelbyville, Indiana were bought and donated to the city in 1929 by Fred Kennedy. Among the features of the park included a concrete ford that crossed the Little Blue River to East Franklin Street. For years it was a place to drive across the river by car or bike. It was also a place to wash your car, which of course you couldn’t do today.

The video pans from East to West and shows the last complete concrete section of the old ford. You can also get a glimpse of the recently completed steel pedestrian footbridge over the river.