I had a naked lady in my office the past few days.

Before you contact our Human Resources department to call that to its attention, consider it was a Naked Lady flower I’m talking about.

Shirley and Cecil Broussard remembered how I’ve written about Naked Lady flowers most years when they start blooming around town, though usually I don’t think you start seeing them in large numbers for a few more weeks.

The flowers have long thin green stalks topped by typically red blooms, and no leaves — thus the thought they are “naked.”

I found references to Belladonna Lily and Amaryllis Belladonna, both of which were called Naked Lady.

Shirley brought by a white Naked Lady, a color I’d not previously seen. She said they got the bulbs for the white ones about three years ago but this is the first year it’s bloomed.

Shirley said they had some others in the traditional red color and some that were a bit yellow, though the latter doesn’t bloom as often.

Mary Etta Murray lived for years on Main Street in New Iberia and attended the same church as did wife Gladys and I when we were still somewhat new to town.

It seems as if most every year, she’d get some devilish delight in picking bouquets of these flowers and then make some comment about seeing Naked Ladies in church.

I think they’re distinctive and sure are pretty when in bloom, and the name Naked Lady sure makes them even more memorable.

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It might help us sell a few more tickets if we advertised there’d be Naked Ladies at this year’s Sugar Cane Jamboree Luncheon, but then again, perhaps some would get the wrong idea.

Community First Bank and The Daily Iberian are teaming up again this year to host this fun event, where one local coach will win the Notso Sweet Award for telling the best tales of woe about his team, trying to lower expectations even though he may feel he’s got a winner.

This year’s Jamboree Luncheon is at the Ramada Inn, starting at 11:30 a.m. with the program starting at noon. Tickets are $20 at Community First Bank or The Daily Iberian.

Please note you must buy tickets in advance. They are not sold at the door. And the deadline for tickets is the Friday, Aug. 17 prior to the Tuesday, Aug. 21 lunch date. Get your ticket now so you won’t forget, but be sure to get it by that Friday.

Any profits from the luncheon will benefit the United Way of Iberia.

We’ll hear from each of the jamboree coaches about their jamboree matchups, and their seasons.

Jeanerette is pitted against Delcambre.  Catholic High is playing Loreauville. And New Iberia Senior High is taking on Westgate.

We’ve been running ads promoting both the jamboree and the luncheon so you can get details on each. Coca-Cola and The Daily Iberian are jamboree game sponsors.

NISH is the host team of this year’s jamboree. Each team keeps the revenue from advance tickets they sell, and then the gate is divided equally. Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 at the gate.

It’s a great community event, and it’s great to see the local high schools cooperating to make this happen.

Give the players your support.

WILL CHAPMAN is publisher of The DailyIberian.