Garden Easter Lily

McClure  &  Zimmerman, a reputable mail order plant dealer, lists   L. longiflorum as hardy to zone 7.  We knew that the Easter Lily needed a warm weather location to grow outside but decided to try and grow them here in zone 4.  Three zone steps corresponds to a 30 degree F temperature difference but our last two winters have been mild.  Last winter the snow cover came early and stayed late.  Under this continuous insulation blanket, warmth from the earth found the surface and melted the frost that had penetrated garden soil.  Continuous snow cover is not characteristic of our winters so long term our lilies are at risk.

This fall we plan to pot up our bulbs in preparation for winter.  Lily pots will be placed in the ground near the south facing house wall.  Sunlight reflected off of the house wall and interior warmth that sneaks through the foundation wall should create a zone 5 like micro climate.  I can shovel snow on top of the lilies to try and preserve their snow cover.  Thus protected the lilies will likely survive the winter.

The real risk comes during the transition from winter to spring.  During this wildly changeable time we can have 70 degree F. days followed by 20 degree F. nights.  Our plant losses occur during this period of time.  This is where having the bulbs in pots gives us options.  Pots can be lifted and placed inside the house for protection from cold nights.  Weather permitting the pots can go back outside to continue their early season growth.  When the weather has settled, tender plants are removed from their pots and placed in the garden.

We plan to force a pot or two by bringing the frozen bulbs into the house around Christmas.  A waking up period in a cold basement corner will be followed by a move to the living room.  Who knows we may have flowers for Easter.

Well Planned Bed

At some level, planning could be part of the foundation of a garden.  Our main planting beds are five feet wide and thirty-two feet long.  We were able to reach across the width when younger.  Now an occasional footprint in the soil tells of a rare step onto the garden soil.  The length allows for two twelve foot vegetable plantings in the center with four foot flower plantings at the end.   Like all plans this pattern is subject to change but it is our basic method.

Yesterday, two cherry tomato plants were planted in this bed.  Today, sweet peppers followed.  Space remained when all of the peppers were placed.  With many pots of overwintered lilies waiting for attention, it occurred to me that peppers, tomatoes and lilies might share this bed.

Easter lilies, L. longiflorum, were part of my youth.  A few years ago some were purchased at the supermarket after the holiday.  Our late frosts and this lily's dislike for cold limited our success with these bulbs.  Last fall many of our lilies were placed in pots that were sunk to their rims in the ground.  Frost protection was achieved by covering the group with a tarp on cold nights.  Our June 3rd frost found these lilies safely in our basement.  All pictured lilies came from one pot.  Three plants have buds.  The rest are growing from small bulbils.  We expect flowers and plan to try some winter forcing in 2012.

Forest floor litter was the source of the mulch that nearly covers this planting bed.  Hand tools, a wheelbarrow and a sifting screen with 1/2 inch square mesh produced this mulch.  It was not totally free as many of the flying forest creatures feasted on me as I sifted.  I do like the look of the screened leaves as mulch and they will be part of the soil by next season.

Self Planted Save

Heirloom lilies were planted in this section of our garden. L. speciosum album and L. speciosum rubrum were described in the catalog as hardy to zone 3. Ten bulbs were scattered in two rows along the fence end here in zone 4. The plan was to tie the tall lilies to the fence. Mother's day featured an overnight freeze and frost. At 2 inches tall the lilies were frozen brown, dead to the ground. This was my second try with these lilies. Last year our June 1st freeze and frost similarly killed these lilies. The hole in this years garden was nicely filled by self planted pink poppies, P. laciniatum. I have no plans for a third attempt with these heirloom lilies.



Sweet Surrender, a Tigrinum lily, is catalog described as hardy to zone 4. Nothing was planted adjacent to them so an inverted plastic garbage can protected from frost. Inside the can a jug of water released its heat to protect from freeze. Success was only partial as I damaged two stems when I placed the can. The damaged lilies are still alive and green but produced no flowers this year. A larger garbage can will be needed to cover this planting next year.



Last year after the holiday, I purchased three Easter lilies, L. longiflorum from the grocery store. Despite the description indicating that these lilies have no frost tolerance, all were planted in front of the house after natural die down. Only two of the lilies could be covered by a single garbage can when frost threatened. The third was protected with a pail. Somehow these lilies survived the freeze and later flowered. There are several daughter plants and secondary main stems so things look good for next year.

Easter lilies in our garden provide a connection with my youth. Mother always had an Easter lily on the mantle in observance of this special time. My job was to carefully remove the yellow anthers with tweezers before the pollen stained the pure white flower. The blossom had to be partially opened or its grip on the anther made safe removal impossible. If the blossom was fully open, a yellow stain was likely. With care and diligence, Mother had a pure white Easter lily year after year. Now the lilies in my garden have yellow stains. Surrounding growth allowed no access for this delicate task. A more open site may allow these lilies to produce a more impressive display.