One of the stout-hearted lilies found in Korea thriving among grasses and low-growing shrubs was Lilium amabile. Bulbs were first available in 1905. Amabile means pleasing or lovely. The single thing not pleasing is the somewhat offensive odor of the flowers, which is not too apparent in the garden but practically disqualifies this species from … Read more
Lilies are a summer highlight in the South. You find them in the stately gardens of Natchez and New Orleans, Weatherford, Texas, and even southern Florida. Their wide adaptability is illustrated by the varied locations in which the annual shows of the North American Lily Society are held. This year, the show was at Longwood … Read more
Flowers in Alaska? Yes, indeed! Flowers abound here. Even the drab tundra of interior Alaska sports many varieties of wildflowers that bloom briefly during the summer months. These include Labrador-tea (Ledum groenlandicum), tundra-rose (Potentilla fruticosa), and various saxifrages, to mention only a few. Driving along the highway in June and July, one sees a colorful … Read more
You can have foxtail lilies if you have acres of garden or just a little 6 by 10-foot flower border. These magnificent members of the lily tribe range from the 10-foot Eremurus himalaicus with its 4-foot spread of leaves to the neatly tailored Shelford and Van Tubergen hybrids that will fit into a spot on … Read more
Lilies in pots—of course! The idea is not new. Florists have been planting lilies in pots, probably since lilies were discovered. Books have been written about this, formulas given, and procedures devised. I am no horticulturist nor a learned expert, but I do like lilies, and just to make sure you enjoy these lovely flowers … Read more
Since the beginning of civilization, lilies have been one of the most important garden subjects. They are mentioned in the oldest written discourses on gardening and rural life. They appear in the earliest primitive paintings. In short, as long as people have been gardening for pleasure and profit, they have considered the lily one of … Read more
When lilies became an important part of my work, and I wanted to plant the various new hybrids and the species right around my own home where I could observe their behavior closely, I found my garden was not quite suitable. Two eminent Oregon landscape architects designed it primarily for so-called Dutch bulbs, annuals, and … Read more
American bulbs are the rule with lilies, for none in the world are any better, fresher, or less likely to carry disease. Unless you are a fancier of species, you’ll get the most satisfaction from the newer easy hybrid strains or clones. Some good kinds: 44659 by Na
With a little planning and selection now, it is possible to have lilies flowering in the garden from late May to the first frost in fall. The lovely Lilium speciosum is well known for its showy orchid-like blooms in late summer, but the early flowering lilies are not so well known and have been neglected. … Read more
For centuries, lilies have had a strong appeal for gardeners, painters, sculptors, and poets, and the reasons are easy to understand. Their broad range of color and form has made them one of the most striking and attractive groups of flowers. All colors except blue are to be found among the numerous hybrids and species. … Read more