Star of Bethlehem
Named for the guiding star that led the Three Wise Men to the manger, these fiery buds, Star of Bethlehem, (Ornithogalum umbellatum) bloom in the spring, not December.
They were once native to the Mediterranean, but now they’re naturalized in North America, which means they’re always in season and not too pricey. After brightening my office cubicle for days and then weeks, my co-workers thought they’d witnessed a miracle—though Mary Magdalena, I’m definitely not. — Jen
