More Lilies: Til Death Do Us Part

I mentioned this past Monday that I have lilies for the first time in two years. I also mentioned that I’d probably talk more about them before they wilted and died. I have been infatuated with them this year, taking an endless amount of pictures, showing them off around the Internet and talking about them to anyone with ears.

The first group of buds to bloom and open have started to wilt, shriveling and curling into themselves. Another group of the buds are just starting to open, petals reaching toward the sun. I learned, by walking around with the camera yesterday evening, that lilies are beautiful from their blooming to their wilting. Don’t believe me?

Here’s a beauty, just ready to open and unfurl.

On the other end of the spectrum are these two shots.

I had no idea that lilies boasted such beauty even as they wilted and gave up for the season. The colors are simply stunning. While my day lilies are mostly orange and yellow, the wilted versions boast purples and reds. I pruned off the dried, wilted, wavy, wrinkled flowers and let the boys play with them as I continued to snap pictures.

All of this made me feel very romantic and nostalgic and, having just downloaded some music from my past, I put on “Field of Flowers” by Sixpence None the Richer as I edited and watermarked these photos. I will share a quick line with you that hits as to how the beauty of flowers makes me feel.

I wish to quote from Whitman now
To show the way I feel, I feel about you, oh about you
Because it’s a “subtle electric fire” you light in me
Every time I see you
So let’s dance again in this field of flowers we’re in

Because enjoying my flowers with my (handsome) Husband by my side is better than enjoying the flowers alone. Just like this life, really. Yes, it’s true. These flowers are beautiful by themselves. Knowing that my Husband helped me transplant them into our yard, that they are part of his family’s history, that he lamented with me when the deer ate them for two years straight and that he helped water them at various points in time this year… makes them all the more beautiful to me.

I hope that FireDad and I are like these flowers. We had a beautiful start, of course. And I hope, as the years pass, our love can show beauty even in our later years. Considering he just made me a delicious breakfast, I think we’re working on such a result. I definitely felt a “subtle electric fire” of love and appreciation! In fact, I’d like to go dance with him in a field of flowers now. Or, perhaps, just a nice spin around the kitchen, knowing our lilies are outside, blooming another day.