LILIES GALORE

I have always loved Lilies.

Don’t really know why.

There is no great “Lily memory”

Or “Lily moment”

That comes to mind.

But, since I have become a gardener

I have always had Lilies.

It likely began when Elliott’s friend David’s mother Esther

Got that…

Gave me a start of Tiger Lilies.

The tall stately orange Lily with deep brown spots.

Unfortunately they were a bit invasive for my space

So I left them behind in my old garden.

I did however bring a Daylily of Esther’s

That has filled a space between my house

And Torry next door. 

It too seems to spread beyond

The space I am willing to give it.

But it’s a great bit of mid summer orange

That we both enjoy.

Walking through my garden this week

I’ve realized how many different kinds of Lilies

Have come to call this place home.

Most of these like some shade during the day

So they are dotted throughout my garden

Enjoying the part sun, part shade it offers.

Perhaps the best known is the Daylily.

My season begins with the miniature Stella d Ora.

It allegedly re-blooms but this year I was slow

In deadheading it so the second round of buds

Are just beginning to show. 

And let’s be clear about this re-blooming thing.

No matter what the plant

No matter what the promise

The second round of blooms

Is always much less of a show

Than the first…at least at my house.

Other Daylilies have been given to me

By my friend Madeline

When she over-bought on a trip down south.

Imagine that !!!

Daylilies are just that.

Each bloom lasts a day

But the stems of mature plants

Have lots of buds

Giving weeks of dotted bloom.

Moving a little deeper into the shade

I find Calla Lilies.

Not really supposed to be perennial here in zone 7B

But I chance it

And they reward me well.

They are well protected from winter

Since they are buried deep in my garden

Nested under trees.

Then there are the show offs.

Orientals.

They are tall

Fragrant

Glorious

And finicky.

Most don’t return the next year

At my house.

But fortunately

They aren’t too expensive

So I plant a few each fall.

Hoping to some day find the one variety

That wants to move here

On a permanent basis.

Lily diversity.

It gives me weeks of Lily pleasure

In mid summer.

Diversity.

It’s good for my garden.

Good for the earth.

Good for the soul.

It’s just plain good!

Gail