The folk tale goes like this: Once upon a time the crown imperial, Fritillaria imperialis, had white, upright flowers. When Christ was on the road to Calvary to be crucified the haughty crown imperial refused to mourn for him. Ever since it has been condemned to nod its flowers and blush for shame. And the nectar droplets inside the flower are its unshed tears. Judy in very wet New Jersey, with 1.85 inches of rain in the previous 24 hours