The Elusive Bloom: Elizabeth Lawrence’s Quest for Nerine undulata

August 20, 2024

On this day, in the year of our Lord 1940, as the world found itself embroiled in conflict, a most delightful correspondence unfolded in the realm of horticulture.

The esteemed garden writer, Elizabeth Lawrence, penned a letter to her sister, brimming with the excitement of literary progress and floral anticipation.

Allow me, dear readers, to share with you the very words that flowed from Ms. Lawrence's pen:

I have finished [the chapter on] Summer, and I only have [the chapter on] Fall to do—which is short.

I hope I can get it done quickly, and have time to rewrite after your reading.

One can almost feel the anticipation radiating from the page, can't one?

The thrill of a work nearing completion, the promise of Fall's bounty yet to be chronicled!

If you get back before I do [from a trip with Bessie and sister Ann], and can find time to look into my garden, will you see if Nerine undulata is in bloom?

And if it is, pick it when all of the flowers are out, and put it in your refrigerator until I get back.

Imagine, if you will, the fervor with which Ms. Lawrence must have penned these words.

The Nerine undulata, a botanical treasure she had yet to behold with her own eyes, potentially blooming in her absence! The horror!

It bloomed last year while I was gone, and I have never seen it, and it is the most exciting bulb I have.

I enclose a map of where it is, and of other things that might bloom.

One can scarcely conceive of a more tantalizing situation for a gardener of Ms. Lawrence's caliber.

To nurture a plant of such excitement, only to repeatedly miss its fleeting moment of glory!

Don't bother about any of them—don't look for Ridgeway [color chart]. I am taking it with me in case we get to any nurseries.…

Ah, the dedication of a true plantswoman!

Even while traveling, Ms. Lawrence remained prepared to document any horticultural marvels she might encounter.

For those among you who find yourselves intrigued by this elusive Nerine undulata, allow me to paint a picture with words.

This enchanting member of the Amaryllis family stands a modest 18 inches tall, crowned with umbels of 8-12 slender, crinkled pale pink flowers. It is a harbinger of autumn, choosing to unfurl its delicate blooms as the world prepares for winter's embrace.

One can only hope that Ms. Lawrence eventually witnessed the beauty of her prized Nerine undulata.

Perhaps, dear readers, you might consider adding this charming bulb to your own gardens?

A living tribute to the passion and persistence of one of our most beloved garden writers.

Until our paths cross again in this verdant world of ours, may your gardens flourish and your own horticultural quests be fruitful!