Life here has been difficult for this fragrant heirloom lily, L. speciosum rubrum. Purchased in the fall of 2008, it has twice been frozen to the ground just after it emerged. Promising bright green early growth was turned slippery brown by late hard freezes. Later in the summer a single short green leaf nourished each bulb. We had given them up as lost expecting to see nothing from them this year.
Of the five bulbs purchased, three made an appearance this year. One withered to brown early never showing even a hint of bud. The remaining two hung on producing three flowers between them. In order to improve their survival chances, these bulbs will be potted up and moved to a protected garden location for the winter. By moving all of the newly potted lily bulbs to a single place, they can all be protected from late spring cold with a single tarp. Pulling the pots from the ground and moving them into the basement is a workable option if severe cold threatens. Preparing the lily house is near the top of the list of projects requiring immediate attention.
