Love those lilies
By Amy McDowell
In my new garden,
I inherited a big clump of crimson Asiatic lilies. My first reaction when I saw
them bloom was revulsion. I’ve always had a passion for pastels—especially
pink—and the bold red annoyed me. The lilies were one of the many apparent
flaws in my new garden. Now, three years later, after once offering to dig them
up and give them away, I find myself looking forward to their blooms this year.
In fact, I’m thinking about planting more.
The pale pastels
that created a sweet and delicate woodland wonderland in my old garden just
don’t cut it in this sprawling acre-and-a-half, full sun garden. I need big,
bold blooms that can be seen from a great distance, and those once-rejected
lilies are spectacular for that purpose.
Asiatic lilies
are the earliest bloomers, making their show in late May or early June. They
range from two to five feet tall, and they come in red, orange, yellow, white
and every shade of pink. Asiatic lilies multiply well, forming an attractive
clump.
Oriental lilies
pick up when the Asiatics leave off, blooming from June through August. They
range from three to six feet tall, and they come in pink, white, yellow and
bicolor. The well-known ‘Stargazer’ often used in floral arrangements is an
Oriental lily.
Both Asiatic and
Oriental lilies make great cut flowers, but you’ve got to leave at least half
of the stem and foliage standing in the garden to feed the bulb for next year’s
bloom. Asiatic lilies are not fragrant, but Oriental lilies often have a spicy
scent.
I plan to add
both Asiatic and Oriental lilies to my garden this year, in every vibrant red
and yellow I can get my hands on. There are always trumpet, Turk’s cap and
orienpets to try next year. Trumpet and Turk’s cap lilies range from four to eight
feet tall, and may need stakes or shelter from the wind. Orienpets are the
newer crosses between Oriental and trumpet lilies, bred for more durability and
a broader range of colors.
Lilies need
well-drained soil and are happiest in full sun or light shade. I’ll plant mine
with a little bone meal mixed into the planting hole and a little blood meal
sprinkled on the surface of the soil. A decade ago, I learned the hard way that
lilies are a tasty treat for critters. The day after I planted a couple of
Oriental lilies in my garden, I found some little bugger had dug them up and
eaten them. They are not cheap, and I was so frustrated that I’ve never planted
them since. Just as it has taken several years to recognize the glorious value
of red lilies in my garden, it has also taken years to let go of that initial
failure and try again.
