Halfway through the autumn season, new plants have come to life, while most are retiring for a long winter’s nap (dormancy). About 4-5 weeks back, the leafy growth (vegetative) stage of the surprise lily (Lycoris radiata), also called “resurrection lily or “naked ladies”, appeared (left and center photos). When last seen in late July and August, brightly colored stalks of lycoris flowers had popped through with no leaves present. The floral stalks have since withered and disappeared. 

The strap- shaped lycoris leaves emerged for their photosynthetic stage, to build or renew food storage reserves in their roots. Cutting or mowing off the foliage would be detrimental to the promise of flowering next summer.

New leafy foliage of Italian arum (Arum italicum ‘Pictum’) (right photo) has also arisen. Its new bright green metallic arrowhead shaped foliage is poking through the fallen leaves which litter the shade garden. Its glossy green arum foliage arrives for the winter and spring seasons to form an evergreen ground cover.

Both lycoris and Italian arum are examples of long-lived perennials which thrive in a richly composed, well-drained soil. Container grown plants may be planted anytime that the soil can be worked up.