Looks like Amaryllis bella donna to me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amaryllis bella donna

WOW- you're fast! It sure is an amaryllis, I didn't even think of that.....can you tell I'm inexperienced? Thanks so much- now I can post about this in the proper forum!

I think it's more likely what's often called Magic Lily, Resurrection Lily, Hardy Amaryllis, or Naked Lady. Amaryllis bella donna is not likely to survive in zone 5. Magic Lily is generally hardy to zone 5 sometimes zone 4. Lycoris squamigera is a member of the amaryllis family though. Usually the leaves come up in spring then disappear and the stalk shoots up in August.

Hostaholic2, that is exactly what it is- got a positive ID on the amaryllis forum. Thanks! I guess we were mowing over it the last couple of years because we had no idea it was there.

It is also known as the "surprise" lily--because it surprises you, popping out of nowhere like that. In the spring, you should see a handsome set of leaves there. They will die back (let them die naturally) and when you have forgotten about them, pop out with their late summer (evidently autumn, for you) "surprise."

I've tried several years to catch them in the act of popping up, but they must do it overnight--at least I have never been able to see them before they were already blooming.

Kate

I live in the Flatlands of Eastern Nebraska. Today, it is 102! My Mystery Lilies are blooming like crazy. When do I dig them up and separate?
Thanks,
Doug

yes that is naked lady/ spider lily. If you watch in the spring you will see what kinda looks like a mound of grass..wide edge leaves rounded on the ends. That is all there is in the spring. This will die back like daylilies do. Then come fall if you watch closly you will see them come up. They do grow very quickly as it is a memeber of the amaryllis family. if you have them mixed with other plants may be why you don't notice. When you smell the blooms the closely resemble the smell of a lilac. And their blooms don't last a long time. They like wet winters and drier summers. I divide mine any time after the greenery has left in the spring or after the flower dies in the fall. The bulbs can get hugh. Have had some get to be 5" in dia. I live in MN. I bought them over from WI

Doug, I also live in flatlands of eastern Nebraska. I dug mine up last fall and separated them. They all came back up this year and bloomed. Vicki

My this is an old post.

If anyone is interested the botanical name for the lilies is Lycoris Squamigera.

lily and lily

There are numerous things that go by the name of Surprise Lily, naked lady/spider lily, Resurrection Lily.

Lycoris Squamigera is one of the hardiest of the Lycoris.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Lot of Lycoris