Shining White in the Dark

The glorious Hill Country Prairie Rain Lily, Cooperia pendunculata, is finally in bloom! Oh, the sweet aroma of this native treasure after a nice Spring rain!
Prairie Whites are so lovely that both the Zephyranthes and Cooperia categories of rain lilies claim her as their own. I am not a professional botanist nor do I play one on Web MD, so I simply call her “Prairie White Rain Lily”. This particular bulb has been with me for almost 20 years, and she has never ceased to amaze me. Unlike many flower bulbs, Prairie Whites, are repeat bloomers. Each time it rains after a period of dry, the bulbs bloom. Rain lilies are delightful surprises for your garden. The Lord’s mercies found new every morning.

My favorite attribute of the Prairie White is that she blooms at night. She delights herself in the dark and closes her petals in the hot, direct sun. She remains pure and untarnished, blooming for many days. Prairie Whites also laugh at drought conditions. I’ve never seen a bulb (besides the Oxblood Lily) grow so vigorously in times of drought. It is almost as if she has no fear of her surroundings. Darkness and drought can’t touch her beauty. She is rooted deep and her source of strength is not affected by outward conditions.

Personally, I greatly admire this flower bulb.
I want those attributes shining through in my own life. Unlike the Prairie White Rain Lily, I am deeply affected by my surroundings. I stress out when others stress. I get anxious and nervous when others get anxious. I get overwhelmed by the news and the endless bombardment of information. I am called an “empath”, and I have to work extremely hard to not be affected by the world around me. I struggle to bloom in the darkness. Honestly, what could be better than the ability to stay pure in darkness?
I suppose the sweet aroma of goodness and faith that gently affects people, without even saying a word.

Prairie Whites don’t scream at the top of their lungs, bragging loudly of their attributes. Nor do these sweet lily bulbs demand the attention of garden viewers. Heck, most people don’t even know they are around until you smell their sweetness.

Quiet beauty that is clothed in pure white, shining through the darkness.

In a world of hot pink, flamboyant fake flowers, isn’t it nice to gaze upon a meek and gentle, pure white flower that simply reminds us to bloom in the dark?

Bloom, my friends. Bloom. Don’t let the darkness overwhelm you.