Lilies in the Garden
The flower garden beds here at my Bedford, New York farm abound with gorgeous, bright and fragrant lilies.
Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants that grow from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. The beautiful blooms can be enjoyed as cut flowers in an arrangement or growing in the garden - some at two feet, and others as tall as eight feet. I love lilies, and have been growing them for years - Asiatic, Martagon, Candidum, American, Longiflorum, Trumpet and Aurelian, Oriental, and various interdivisional hybrids.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
-
- Many of my lilies are planted in my large flower cutting garden just behind my main greenhouse. I also have lilies growing along the winding pergola, outside my Winter House kitchen, in the sunken garden behind my Summer House, and in the formal garden outside the front of the greenhouse. Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants grown for their very showy, often fragrant flowers.
-
- Lily flowers are large and come in a range of colors including yellows, whites, pinks, reds, and purples. They may be planted in early spring or fall. Both planting times will give flowers in mid to late summer. This Turk’s cap-type lily has white blooms with raised, dark red spots and warm yellow-orange centers.
-
- Lilies are native to temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere.
-
- The true lilies are erect plants with leafy stems, scaly bulbs, usually narrow leaves, and solitary or clustered flowers.
-
- The lily has a diversity of symbolism throughout the world. In fact, different colored lilies represent different things. While the white lily represents purity, the spotted tiger lily represents pride or confidence. In Japan and China, lilies are a traditional symbol of good luck, whereas Greek lore associates the flower with motherhood. These bright white blooms marked with soft yellow centers are so pretty en masse.
-
- Here’s a beautiful orange lily growing in my flower garden. Lilies like to have their “head in the sun, feet in the shade,” and should be planted where they can get at least six hours of full sun per day.
-
- It’s important for their foliage to be exposed to plenty of light – and not be shaded by other plants.
-
- Over time, most lilies will multiply and the plants will grow into large clumps with many stems, but don’t worry they don’t mind being crowded.
-
- Lily flowers consist of six petal-like segments, which may form the shape of a trumpet, with a more or less elongated tube. The segments may also be reflexed to form a turban shape, or they may be less strongly reflexed and form an open cup or bowl shape.
-
- When it comes to water, lilies prefer moist soil but not wet feet. Choose a well-drained site, preferably not too dry.
-
- When cutting flowers, the best time to do it is early in the morning before the sun and wind have a chance to dry the flowers. One can also cut late in the evening after they are rehydrated.
-
- This one has yet to open.
-
- Rose lilies are lush, double-flowered, gorgeous blooms. Their layered blooms are pollen-free and their aroma is pleasantly light.
-
- And before bringing them indoors, be sure to gently pull those anthers off of each flower. Pollen is notorious for staining flesh and fabric. Removing the anthers prevents any pollen from getting on the flower petals, which can eat away at the delicate flower parts and shorten the life of the blooms.
-
- When handling lilies, it’s a good idea to wear gloves and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. If you happen to get a pollen stain on your clothing, do not rub! Instead, reach for a roll of tape and use the sticky side to gently dab the area – the particles will adhere to the tape.
-
- Lilies have one of the longest in-vase lifespans of any cut bloom and the flowers will continue to mature after they’ve been cut.
-
- The cultivation of lilies dates back to 1500 B.C. Many of the bright colors and forms of lilies were found on botanical expeditions during the 1800s in Asia. The Chinese and Japanese lily species were exported to Europe and hybridized to create new varieties that are popular today as cut flowers and as garden plants.
-
- Many lilies smell stronger at night. This is because during the reproduction of lilies, pollen has to get inside the pistil, which usually happens at night and as an immediate response, the fragrance is released.
-
- As the blossoms begin to fade, snip them off to keep the plants looking neat. When all the flowers are spent, remove the entire cluster, but leave the rest of the stem in place. Allow the stem and the leaves to continue growing until they turn yellow in late summer or fall. Then the stems can be cut back to within a couple inches of the soil surface.
-
- These lilies will continue blooming through mid-August – I am looking forward to enjoying many lily arrangements in the weeks ahead. What are your favorite lilies? Share your comments with me below.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
