Gardening Lilies in July

close up of the Stargazer Lily center

The heat took its toll on us last week out here in the hinterlands. The 100+degree temperatures were frying the plants, the pavement and us.  It seemed like the heat wave would never end. It did. The week that followed was a delightful respite. The low 80 degree temperatures allowed us to be out and about the garden, as opposed to prisoners inside the air conditioned house. The week proved to be very fruitful. I planted many herbs, perennials, and annuals which had been sitting around in their pots.  I had to nurse these through the difficult weather of the heat wave, so I was glad to get them in the ground. In another post I will discuss my technique for prolonging the health of the new plants I bring home, when I can not plant them immediately. For now, on with this week's work. .

yellow lily with numerous extra large heads

In addition to the numerous plantings I did, we had many new bloomings. The first is the lily shown at the top. Four years ago I planted six beautiful pink Stargazer lillies. They did not fare well.  Year one, they never bloomed. Every following year they come up, each year fewer appeared, finally this year......one lily grew, prospered and bloomed with four beautiful flowers with an incredible scent. Last year, me of unwaivering faith, planted six more Stargazer lily bulbs.  You guessed it, they did not bloom either.  I gave up on Stargazer lilies thinking two failed attempts to cultivate was enough.

This year I had a banner lily year. My dud lilies bloomed like gangbusters this summer. In addition to the pink Stargazer lillies, a huge yellow lily (that was smashed up and run over by an errant dog last year) bloomed spectacularly with seven or more heads.  Its scent lifted on the wind, and its color was a magnificent yellow. The flowers were the pay off for my unending patience. They wowed me! What do you think?

More new plantings to come....