I love lilies, but they seem to hate me or my soil. Of the 12 Stargazer lily bulbs I planted this spring only 1 has bloomed. I think this is a very poor result! I could of course just stick to roses, that I grow so well, but I like to have something blooming during the dog days of August. I love the scent of fragrant flowers. Fragrance is so important to me and what is more fragrant than oriental lilies?
The bulbs I planted were very large. I amended the soil so it drained well were I planted them and gave a good layer of compost on top. I sprayed them with natural pyrethrum tea to deter red lily beetles and I did not see any most of the season. They shot small stalks only about 1,5 feet tall and like I wrote only 1 of the 12 produced 2 buds!
The rest produced blind shots like these, with no buds or totally crippled:
I did enjoy the one flower I got, pictured on top and I looked forward to the other bud opening up - but then I noticed this little fellow munching away on the inside of the small bud ---AARRRGGGHHH%#¤%:
I just know that lily beetles and their disgusting larvae did not eat my lily buds, I inspected them every day and I saw none. This single one was probably attracted to the fragrance of the one bloom I got. Maybe it does take some time before lily bulbs bloom well? I have heard that they may need a few years to flower well, but what do I know? I will consider whether these flowers are worth growing. Perhaps I am doing the same mistake with these plants that I often do with people. I pass judgment way too fast and don´t give them a chance?
Consider the lilies of the field,
How they grow, how they grow.
Consider the birds in the sky,
How they fly, how they fly.
He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky.
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.
Consider the sheep of His fold,
How they follow where He leads.
Though the path may wind across the mountains,
He knows the meadows where they feed.
He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky,
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.
Consider the sweet, tender children
Who must suffer on this earth.
The pains of all of them He carried
From the day of His birth.
He clothes the lilies of the field,
He feeds the lambs in His fold,
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.
.JPG)
14 comments:
Good morning. I wanted to stop by to visit and thank you for leaving a comment on my blog.
I wish I could answer you question about lilies that don't grow. I had a high failure rate this spring. I know mine were hit with a hard freeze just as the tender shoot appeared.
Better luck next season:)
Marnie
I wouldn't give up on your lilies just yet -- they may surprise you next year with an abundance of blooms. :)
I don't know why your lilies didn't flower but perhaps next year you should plant some in pots, then you will know if it is the soil or something else. I have always found lilies more reliable in pots and they always come up the first year but have deteriorated after that. I have planted Star Gazer in the ground it came up for the first few years then disappeared. The white species lilies are much better than the oriental lilies and just as fragrant, provided the horrible lily beetle doesn't get them!
Best wishes Sylvia (England)
Give them a chance :) Lilies like heavy clay soil. I have such one in my garden and they blossom wonderfully since first year. Come and have a look:
http://bp2.blogger.com/_rB-G-WeWgJI/SH-TYbgszEI/AAAAAAAAD0A/VQmBbzKzRis/s1600-h/2a.jpg
Greetings,
Ewa
Niels,
I was there last summer when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir gave a concert in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a glorious experience.
I did not have good luck with OL until I put them in large containers to solve drainage issues. You seem like a person who does not give up that easily.
Donna
I gave up on mine. They don't earn their keep and there are so many more rewarding perennials that it is fine. Good luck with your decision.
Marnie: I planted these bulbs in spring, and even though we had a hard freeze - they had not shot yet. But maybe the frost damaged them?
Nancy: well I will give them another year.
Sylvia: I am considering growing lilies in pots instead of planting them in my borders. Perhaps this will be the solution? I just know that I have to be very vigilant in may to kill all lily beetles and their larvae because most people here do not grow lilies because of them. I just think that they do not care for them properly - inspecting them once every 2 weeks and see them beeing chewed up but lily beetles larvae is not what I consider proper care. They must be inspected once or twice a day. Having them in a pot actually makes this easier.
Sylvia: Can you suggest some good Lilies for growing in large pots and containers. I like some that are very fragrant.
Ewa: I also have heavy clay soil that I have amended very well with gravel and coarse sand and added lots of compost to every year (A few inches added each fall). So I better give the ones I have planted another chance next year, and hope they will do better.
Donna: Happy to hear that you enjoyed the concert with the Mormon Tabernacle choir. It really is a great choir and I love them singing many of my favorite hymns.
I am going to hear them in September when I am in Salt Lake City. On sundays they give a free concert in the tabernacle called 'Music and the Spoken Word' that is broadcast worldwide.
I do not give up easily, but sometimes even my green thumb does not seem enough. I will try to grow lilies in large pots and containers next year. And perhaps I will succeed over the years if I just keep trying?
Tina: As you can see I will give them another year and see how they do. I hope those in containers will do better.
I've had to be patient with my solitary lily. It took a couple of years to bloom while it got established in its spot. I guess they have to feel comfy before they put on a show.
Cindy
I always give a new perennial at least three years to prove itself before I give up. Your lilies may just need to get established.
I like the three-year rule, and have learned from this post and its comments.
My own lilies have some of this bud-blast thing; I'm trying calcium as a foliar spray.
I also think the type of lilies you choose makes a difference. I agree with Sylvia that the species are generally nicer than Orientals. Trumpet lilies (some of which are species) are really good, untemperamental lilies for the garden. (I'm doing a post on "African Queen" soon. And maybe Regale lilies also.) And I love tiger lilies, but these aren't fragrant. "Black Beauty" is another really nice one I have grown--it is fragrant.
And by the way: I grow these all in containers!
I think patience with failings is a valuable skill in the garden and out of it. I also think it can be carried too far...but it's worth a try.
They grow pretty well here on the East Coast of USA. -- Monarda
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/Monarda_B_Allen/IMG_0018.jpg
Niels, Sorry I have taken my time to tell you more about the lilies I grow. I don't have a lot of lilies nor an I an expert but... I have grown several oriental lilies both in pots and in the ground and I find they die out after the first few years. The two species lilies which I have found survive longer are Lilium longiflorum and Lilium regale. I was surprised to see Lilium Longiflorum listed as half-hardy but I live in the south of England. Both these lilies are white and very fragrant . I have had more lily beetles in the garden this year than ever before, I do spray the lilies when I remember! I have not sprayed for a couple of weeks and my lilies look awful except the Regal lily this seems untouched, not sure if this is because the others have larger and fleshier leaves and the beetles eat these first. Hope this help.
Best wishes Sylvia (England)
Thank you for your helpful comments! I do know that patience is required with some plants that become better over the years. But patience is not one of my greatest virtues! .-))) I will give them some time and see if they improve.
The bud abortion may also be caused be a fungal infection like botrytis - I do see some grey mold in some of the pictures.
I think I need to read some more about lilies and the different types. I see L. Regale do well here many places (If not eaten by beetles). I look forward reading your posts Pomona - very fragrant lilies is what I want!
Monarda: I think we have met on the GW forum right? Your lily is stunning!
Sylvia: Hearing that your lilies die out after a few years does not sound good. I know that Longiflorum lilies are not hardy here, since it is much colder up here. I buy these as cut flowers to enjoy their fragrance. I will try the L.Regale since they seem like a better choice here. Lillies seems to be harder to grow than roses! And the lily beetle larvae are really disgusting and require spraying/ manual removal.
excelente Mateo 6:25 ;)
Post a Comment