This painting holds special meaning for our family, as it honors my mother, Myrtle Virginia Davis Yaun, and her beloved flower gardens at our old home in Hazlehurst, Georgia. She acquired a single Gloriosa lily from a friend and planted it in the yard; thriving in the South Georgia climate, it multiplied abundantly. Over time, she became the primary source in town for this exotic, flame-like flowering plant—sharing tubers and blooms with neighbors and friends.
After my mother’s passing, my brother Ted transplanted some to his own yard, where they continue to flourish and spread their beauty. Ted generously gives clusters to anyone interested, and he’s created stunning flower arrangements with them for special occasions. One highlight was the arrangement he made for my one-man exhibition at the Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis Historical Museum, placed directly beneath the painting. The fresh blooms perfectly complemented the artwork, creating a seamless connection between the canvas and the living flowers. After the show, I gave the painting to Ted—it’s now part of our family private collection.
In my heart, this will always be a “Myrtle Lily.” The Gloriosa (also known as flame lily, glory lily, or fire lily) is remarkable: not a true lily, but a climbing vine with tendrils at the leaf tips for support. Its flowers feature six dramatically reflexed (swept-back) tepals that curl upward and backward like flames or an inside-out umbrella, often in brilliant crimson-red with bright yellow bases and edges that deepen with age. The long, prominent stamens extend forward, adding to the exotic, dynamic look—whimsical yet flamboyant, with wavy, ruffled margins that catch the light beautifully.
I captured this in loose, impressionistic acrylic strokes on gesso board: the petals glowing with warm reds, oranges, and yellows against a soft, atmospheric background, the green stems and leaves weaving through with natural grace. The result is a celebration of color, family legacy, and the enduring beauty my mother nurtured.
This 8″ × 10″ acrylic on gesso board, painted in the studio in 2023 in an impressionist style, is in the Family Private Collection.
