Daylily and
Impermanence
Hemerocallis spp.
The long, flat leaves of daylily plants rise up from a central core and appear almost fernlike. In midsummer, flower stalks develop, followed by funnel-shaped flowers. The yellow and orange flowers are common along roadways, where they grow wild. Most flowers only last for a day, thus the name daylily. Although each flower lasts only a day, the plant continues to produce blooms for many weeks in mid-to-late summer.
Daylily flowers are edible. (Remember that daylilies are a different plant than Asiatic lilies; Asiatic lilies are not edible.) They have a light, sweet flavor and look beautiful in salads. Since they make their appearance for only a day, don’t feel guilty harvesting them—more will come. The flower buds are also edible and can be steamed or included in stir-fries, although I dislike using the flower buds because it means I will miss seeing the flowers.
Impermanence is the energetic correspondence for daylilies because of the flower’s brief existence. Impermanence is a matter of perspective. You could point to the daylily’s short existence and call it impermanent, but you could also make a case that each moment of our lives is impermanent as it shifts and changes into the next. Each flower or vegetable in our gardens is a unique expression that manifests and then dies away. Within our own bodies, cells are changing and dying each moment—some live only a few days. We might see friends or family on a daily basis, but each time we connect with them is its own unique event and has an impermanent nature to it, if we are paying attention.
Giant sequoias and bristlecone pines live thousands of years. To them, the human life span might seem impermanent. Focusing on this reality may generate sadness, but it can also generate deep appreciation and wonder for the moment-by-moment flow of our lives. Each moment is precious, and we should embrace it as is. Tuning in to the impermanent and transitory nature of reality helps us discern what is important and what is not.
Morning Attunement Questions
• What connections do I have with daylilies and the correspondence of impermanence?
• Where else in the green world or in my life do I observe the concept of impermanence?
• What does this correspondence feel like?
• How can I describe this energetic attribute of impermanence in words or pictures?
• Where does this correspondence of impermanence resonate most strongly in or around my body or in my life?
Daily Integration Questions
• In what ways is the world reflecting daylilies or the correspondence of impermanence back to me?
• What nuances and shades of meaning do I notice about daylilies and impermanence?
Evening Reflection Questions
• Where and how did I experience daylilies and impermanence?
• How did I embrace the concept of impermanence?
• What wisdom does the daylily’s correspondence of impermanence bring to my life?