Flowers filled my sister Betty\u2019s hospital room: roses, tulips and carnations of all colors.<\/p>\n
But the rubrum lily was her favorite. She knew she wasn\u2019t long for this world, but whenever she looked at the vibrant, bright pink lilies, she assured me that a gentle peace washed over her.<\/p>\n
After she died that summer, my husband bought a rubrum lily. He hoped that Betty\u2019s favorite plant could comfort me as it did her.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately the speckled, pink blooms brought me anything but peace. The flowers only reminded me of Betty in the hospital, getting weaker by the day. It seemed right that the plant withered by fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t we plant the bulb outside?\u201d Jim suggested. \u201cIf it survives the winter you might feel differently about it come spring. I have some other bulbs I should have already put in the ground too. It\u2019s no trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wisconsin winters are brutal. Even though lilies are hardy, we didn\u2019t have much hope it\u2014or anything else\u2014would survive. But Jim planted the bulbs anyway.<\/p>\n