I used to work at a flower shop in San Francisco called Frank's Floral, owned by a lovely lady name Sona. It's a small neighborhood shop in the city's Sunset District, sandwiched between a liquor store and a pizza joint. It was at this place where I learned much of what I know about flowers and the floral business.

It's a tough business, lots of early mornings at the flower market, thorns in fingers, ruined manicures and tired feet. But the fun moments make it manageable.

Like this one morning, after Sona returned from the flower market ladened with flowers for the day's orders. I started unpacking the flowers, trimming the ends and putting them in fresh water. I de-thorned the roses and plucked the stamen off the lilies before the pollen stained the petals and customers' clothes. Then I came across some flowers I had never seen before; tall, pink and trumpet-shaped with a brown stalk and the most delicious scent.

“What's the name of this one, Sona?” I asked, pulling a stem to my nose and inhaling. “It smells like bubble gum!”

“That,” Sona said with a mischievous glint in her eyes,” is called naked lady.”

I laughed. “How did that come about?”

“It's because it doesn't have any leaves on the stalk,” Sona smiled. “She's...naked.”

The naked lady's more “professional” name is the amaryllis belladonna. According to Wikipedia, the flower is a native of South Africa and grows near the Cape.

It became my favorite flower to clean because there was nothing to it. Just a quick trim and into the water she goes. And they didn't stay in the vase for long. Customers who come in would be drawn to the scent. Telling them the name of the flower often sealed the deal and the customer would leave with wrapped flowers in arm and a chuckle. It's a fun conversation starter.

Having now seen the belladonna, I began to take notice of them all over the Bay Area; in front yards, in parks, at supermarkets and even along freeways.

I would joke to my brother as he drove us home. “Look, there's a naked lady on the shoulder!”