Pancratium maritimum

This lovely flower is in bloom on the beaches of Stavros. One of its common names is the Sand Lily and the bulb, deep in the sand of beaches and backyards, waits until now, after weeks and weeks of cloudless days, to put forth leaves and flowers. Maybe it was waiting for the migratory and nocturnal hawkmoth to make the trip from Africa to stop by and pollinate it on its way North. A couple of hawkmoths have migrated through our house; at first we thought they were small birds.

For reference, the lily plant in the photo is about a foot and a half tall; the flower, about 4 inches in length and, at the opening, about 2 inches wide (just the right size for the moth).