Excessive Beauty

Our history with Oriental lilies spans several years.  Catalog listings described these plants as hardy to zone 4.  That is the number assigned to our location so we bought and planted bulbs.  Soon after new growth appeared a late frost turned it to sad mush.  We tried again with the same lack of success.  Finally we stumbled onto the need to provide these plants with covers when frost was likely.   Covering newly emerged plants was easy but when the lily was taller than a huge garbage can we were in trouble.  Any part of the plant that touched an edge of the plastic cans was frost burned.

Not known to give up easily, we searched for a new method.  Blocks of sod were cut and piled in the shape of a wide U.  Plastic pipes were driven into the ground and a single tarp covered everything under it.  Placing three dozen plants under cover meant that they had to be pulled from the ground and placed in three gallon pots at the end of their growing season.  That system worked well until the time came to plant them out.  By June  many exceeded three feet in height.  Imagine removing an inverted plant from its pot without damaging the flower buds then righting it and placing it in a hole.  Three gallons of soil is heavy and the move from standing to kneeling next to the planting hole became impossible.  Looking back, I guess we should have left the plants in their pots.

We have flowers this year because no frost found us after the lilies began their above ground growth.  Much of April and all of May were frost free.  We cannot remember a past year like that and will likely never see it again.  So for what may be the last time, we are surrounded by incredible beautiful flowers and wrapped in their unbelievable fragrance.

The first picture shows the single remaining Golden Stargazer.  It is just over six feet in height and the flower count is large.  Our 36 gallon garbage cans could not cover all three of the plants and space did not allow more than one can.  Slow to learn, I plan to buy three new bulbs and plant them closer together so that one can will protect them.  Their height is a problem since six foot tall garbage cans do not exist.

Table Dancer checks in at less than four feet tall.  Adjacent plants make placing covering cans difficult so the obvious solution is to enjoy the display while it is here and miss it greatly when it is gone.                         

Late Morning bulbs are placed on either side of Table Dancer.  This combination of colors is hard to find in plants that have even a slight chance of surviving here.  So we live in the moment and frequently walk away with pollen stuck to our noses.  Their scent simply must be deeply inhaled.  

The more than two inches of rain that fell on the day following the rest of this post prompting Muscadet to finally open its flowers.  They are more than worth the wait.  Typical of Oriental Lilies these blossoms are huge, brilliantly colored and carry a heavenly scent.  They combine a late appearance with a rather short stature so it would be possible to cover them with a huge plastic trash can if frost threatened.  All that needs to be done is to separate them from their neighbors so that the covering can does not flatten them.

Here are the last three lilies to open for us.  Casa Blanca has huge pure white blossoms that are loaded with a sweet scent.  Each year the stems are taller than they were the year before.  When these bulbs were planted a circle was carefully marked on the soil intending to guide planting so that one plastic can could cover the lot.  One bulb sent its initial growth sideways foiling that plan.  This year no protection was needed since late frost stayed away.

Scheherazade is a little flamboyant for our tastes.  Planted close to the house, it has not needed that much help to survive.  Its height exceeds that of the garbage cans used to provide protection from late frosts but one plant lives on in the garden.

Salmon Star has been a favorite here for many years.  Its short stature combined with a late appearance makes it easy to protect,  Its scent is delightful and the colors are rather subdued so it will likely be among the last to continue to grow here.

There is one final note.  We have experienced at least one deer that has developed a taste for lily buds.  We lost entire varieties just as the buds were set to open.  The number and height of protective wire cages made that route seem unpleasant.  Once before fresh urine was used to establish a line that the deer seemed reluctant to cross.  Now the garden is much larger so defensive applications were limited to the areas around the lilies.  We have to date lost no lilies to the deer.  Their hoof prints were close to the Golden Stargazer but no buds were eaten.  They did excessively trim a Rudbeckia triloba that was outside of the protective line.  It is amazing the actions that some will take to protect their treasured flowers.

Two Stars

Our Oriental lilies suffered greatly from late spring cold.  Some did not flower at all while others managed only damaged incomplete flowers.  This cluster of Salmon Stars is the exception.  This is only their second year here and youth may be a factor in how great they look.  Our older Salmon Stars did not even make an appearance this year.  For several years they were reliably magnificent and now they are simply gone.  That may be the reality for plants that are grown so far outside of their natural climate zone.

Salmon Star features subtle colored flowers and understated scent.  Many lilies are so heavily scented that being near them approaches an overpowering experience.  For these, the smell is soft and sweet whether caught on the wind or with a pollen stained nose placed close.  This flower could inspire a classy perfume.

This cluster of Cardinal Flowers has been undisturbed for two years.  The wall shields them from the heat of afternoon sunlight and this location in a low spot between the road and a hill provides plenty of moisture.  Last season insect damage left these plants with almost no leaves.  This year stored heat in the wall protected them from late spring cold.   This spot seems to meet the plants requirements so it will remain theirs.  The clear bright red color puts Cardinal Flower at the top of our must have list.

The deeply grooved capstone to the left is another favorite here.  This stone suffered repeated strikes from farm machinery before it was moved out of the field.  A neighbor allowed me to pick stone from alongside of his field and this was among the group moved here.  Seeing this stone reminds one of neighborly consideration that was more common in days past.

Health issues have kept us out of the gardens for the past several days.  A comparatively short period of time must pass before a return can be attempted.  In the meantime the plants are on their own and the weeds are firming up their hold on garden ground.

Love Those Lilies

As one ages perhaps a little good judgement is lost.  The daylily being sniffed did not even warrant a varietal name.  Included as a free gift in an order delivered many years ago, we find it special.  Its near white petals have a ruffled edge, the eye spot is bright green and the fragrance delicious.  Why else would a seventy year old man perch with his knees against hard stone just to get another whiff.     Fortunately, Becky was kind enough to snap the photo from the side.

Oriental lilies are presently putting on quite a show.  These Salmon Stars are planted downhill by the road.  That small difference in location has these in flower while the ones planted up near the house show only small tight buds.  We plan to try to cover these in place when late Spring frost threatens.  Ample space surrounds these plants so a plastic garbage can can cover them without smashing neighbors.  By not subjecting these bulbs to the stress of potting up, we hope that they will increase in number.  I almost failed to mention the sweet scent drifting from these flowers.  These are a treat for both the eyes and the nose.

These Golden Stargazers overwintered in a pot.  That places the three original bulbs in close proximity to each other.  Here again, they are now planted so that they can be covered in place next year.  A sight to see and a delight to smell, we hope that they also increase in number.

Scheherazade is the name given these lilies.  At first, the maroon color was under appreciated here.  A bright green throat edged in yellow is a powerful contrast to the dark petals.  Planted near the Golden Stargazers, we cannot be certain which is the source of the scent but tend to believe that Scheherazade is scented.  These endured attack in the sod house this Spring.  Two of three have flowers while the third has enough stem and leaf growth to build next season's bulb.  They were all gorgeous today!

Garden Guests Galore

A first look out the window at the garden revealed the local flock of wild turkeys, usually 4 adult females and eleven babies, were making themselves at home in the stone square.  They sit on the bench, perch on the wall, dig in any fresh dirt they can find and leave unmistakable calling cards behind.  The nicer ones are feathers as for the others, you just have to watch your step.  While they really are intriguing  to watch, all this activity is getting to be a bit much.  At least they leave when we approach them.

I took a few moments to watch a couple of hummingbirds challenging each other at the  rose of Sharon flowers just outside of the bedroom window.  I can't hear their chatter from inside, but the way they flare their tails wide showing its white edge  then zoom after each other is amazing.  They do this even though there are lots of flowers to share.  I guess it's a territorial thing.

These orange and white insects are unknown to me.  Good or bad they certainly are attractive!

A bumble bee is always a welcome visitor for Ed's lovely asters.

Our apple trees are covered with fruit.  I tasted one, but unripe it was beyond sour.  The apples are not yet ripe but many are showing lots of red.  I imagine this American dagger moth is not great for the apples, but he certainly is an attractive visitor.

The hummingbird moth adores Ed's Salmon star lilies.  Perhaps there are no pollen stains here because of all that wind turbulence from his continually moving wings.

A single white phlox flower holds this tiny little bee-type insect.  The number of bugs in the garden this year is astounding.

I saved the very best for last.  Finally I managed to find a monarch caterpillar.  This one is munching on a milkweed that came up in the garden.  I guess we won't be weeding any more milkweed out until later after the monarchs are gone.  The plain fact is you can't do anything in the garden with out disturbing something!

Lily Winners

Our oriental lilies found this year's weather not to their liking.  Life under the tarp afforded protection from late frosts but moisture extremes left most of the leaves spotted brown.  Entire leaves soon turned completely brown and dropped from the stalks.  What flowers did open were at the top of a naked stem and could not have their picture taken in that sorry looking condition.  We must find a better way to grow these treasures so far north of their native climate zone.

These Simplon lilies are planted in a circle well removed from neighbors.  It was possible to place an inverted plastic trash can over the lilies without crushing nearby plants.  We will redo other planting areas to allow for lily covering in place.  Now, a row of lilies separates flowers and vegetables at the ends of many long rectangular beds.  There is no way to cover a row of lilies without mashing nearby companions.

Each morning now, my first task is to remove the pollen bearing anthers from newly opened flowers. These pure white flowers look better to me if they remain unstained by cinnamon colored pollen. When newly opened, the pollen is still tightly held in place and can be removed without leaving a stain. Later in the day, the anther drops nearly free, the pollen matures and stains follow.  Standing close to the plant removing these stainers, places ones nose in among the flowers.  There is no better way to start a day in the garden.

Salmon Star is our other lily success this year.  New bulbs were ordered because of uncertainty about the appearance of the old bulbs.  Last year's rodent attacks left most of the old plants in a sorry condition. The spring purchased bulbs are just now flowering while the older plants that did survive are past.  

Why the orange pollen leaves no stain is a puzzle.  Replanting this area to allow for covers in place will present some puzzles.  The nearby chrysanthemum may be a treasured mammoth pink.  Moving it after it flowers will be too late in the year for it to establish roots.  Perhaps we should snip off all of the buds and move it now.  We won't see flowers this year but the plant might survive.  Another choice is to leave it in place and simply place the plastic pail on some of the plant.  Transplanting some of the mum could be done in the spring.  That sounds like the best solution.

Beating Back The Wild Things

It's a plain fact that we are being overrun here.  All the rain has served to keep us out of the garden and it has given the weeds the opportunity to run wild in the garden.   Somewhere hidden beneath the grass and other weeds are Ed's beautiful planting beds and  stone paths.  Ed worked on this area today.  He plans to replant peas here.  We have the seed and sometimes we can get a late crop of peas if the weather cooperates.

I chose  to search for desirable plants in this bed .  I uncovered some dianthus, wood betony, closed gentian and a hollyhock.  I caught sight of Ed's rose, but I did not get it uncovered yet. Digging out the grass is slow work and looking for hidden treasures slows progress down even more.

It's not only the weeds that have gone wild.  The trumpet vine has completely engulfed the golden glows.  A few small golden flowers have managed to break through the vines to catch some sunlight anyway.  Other plants in the area of the trumpet vine have not been seen at all.

Trumpet vine tendrils are marching across  our gravel parking spot.  New runners are popping up in the gravel at some distance from the original plant.  One can't help feeling that parking there for too long will result in a car covered with vines.  However, I can't deny that I love to watch the hummingbirds  zip around the trumpet vine chasing each other at dizzying speeds.  As long as the red flowers that they find so attractive are blooming, this vine gone wild is safe.

Still there is great beauty in the garden.  This Salmon star lily and its tantalizing fragrance is so attractive to a hummingbird moth that I was actually able to get this great picture.  We feast on fresh summer squash, basil, lettuce and the now ripening tomatoes.  Today in the garden was great!

Apparently Rain Makes All the Difference

Yesterday there were dire storm warnings for our area, but in the end all we received was some badly needed rain.  Ed's Hotline lily opened.  It's a lovely white flower with raised red spots and  a delicate fragrance.  A spring ordered bulb, this is its first year here.  We will watch to see if the hint of red in the petals grows stronger as the flower matures.

Salmon Star continues to bloom, but now with some rain the flowers are exquisite, large and sweetly scented.  Two of four plants survived the spring rodent attacks.  We hope that the other two bulbs make an appearance next year.  These have been with us for three years now.  The flower count from a mature bulb  is impressive.

Tiger Woods is  beautiful and fragrant.  These too were spring planted this year.

With bit of rain, Pandora looks perfect in pink and adds her perfume to the garden.  Fall planted last year, only one of three survived the rodent attack.  Two leaves are feeding the second bulb.  The third lost its short stalk to careless mulch spreading.  We expect that all three will be back next year.  The dormant bulbs are waiting for a freeze cycle to signal time for new active growth.

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The Turk's Cap lily that was a gift from Jane is blooming and tall.  It's the first time in several years for this lily to flower.  In past years the plant seemed to put all of its energy into producing small bulbils at every point where leaf and stem meet.

Not only are the flowers responding, but the vegetables are as well.  The broccoli is bursting to life. The yellow squash and zucchini are as well.  Green beans that were stunted by the drought are looking green and beginning to climb their poles.

The coyotes appear to have moved on or at least have moved back to the tall grass.  I don't know how long the effects of the rain will last, but for the first time in quite awhile things are looking better in the garden.

The Ongoing Saga of the Salmon Star

On Friday it will be a month since this ruthless rodent attack on the Salmon Star lily that is planted in the garden.  The May ninth attack in the lily sod house left one Salmon Star with no stem.  Despite the risks the potted lilies had to be placed in the garden.

Ed carefully bandaged the wound, but we really did not hold out much hope for our patient.  He turned his attention to ridding the garden of the exasperating pests.  We have had some success with traps and the battle is ongoing.  Precautions continue as the stem wraps are placed around the intact plants.  We have no idea if the wraps actually deter the munching rodents but leaving them off seems like to much of a risk.

It was past time to free the remaining Salmon Stars from their pots and plant them in the garden.  Ed was surprised to find that the bulb whose stem was totally chewed off  was still solid.  Now there are four lilies planted in this spot.  We need to remember that when it is time to pot up the bulbs this fall.

Our wounded lily has managed to grow in spite of it all.  It is even making an attempt to flower.  For the benefit of the bulb perhaps these buds should be removed, and we have to give this plant a  "Best Growth Against Incredible Odds" award.  It may be that the need to flower is what is keeping this plant alive.  Dead leaves are slowly working their way up the stem.  Ed is afraid that if he takes the flower buds the plant will quit altogether.  We want a solid heavy bulb to plant again next year.

Elsewhere in the garden the first yellow squash and zucchini blossoms have appeared on Ed's transplants.  Scapes have been removed from the garlic.  The cherry tomatoes have blossoms.  The early spinach and lettuce are starting to bolt. This morning  I watched two young bucks with fuzzy antlers walk past my window.  I guess this really is the beginning of summer in the garden!