"Every Gardener Knows –

under the cloak of winter lies a miracle – a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream."

 Barbara Winkler, American author.

Checkered Lily 
or Guinea-hen flower
(potted Fritillaria meleagris)
Photographed with the
5:00 p.m. sun of 8 April 2024
Gatehouse Garden 
Shaw Island, WA.

This is a petite bulbous perennial that is native to river flood plains in Europe where it is frequently seen growing in large colonies. These bulbs are one of the best sellers in the US, commercially grown in Holland. Easy to stuff in a pot to place for easy viewing. This pot of bulbs survived 7 degrees F, of icy snow during the winter of 2023-2024.

In the Pacific Northwest, we have the native Chocolate Lily (Fritallaria lanceolata) growing in the San Juan Archipelago to view in their chosen wild habitat.
        Bulbs of the Chocolate Lily were eaten by the Coast Salish after steaming in pits or, more recently, boiled in metal pots. The bulblets are said to be tender and delicate, resembling rice, except for having a slightly bitter taste. Pojar and MacKinnon (1994) note these flowers, also known as "mission bells" are quite rare in many places and should be left undisturbed.