Lilies: New to Lilies, 1 by debi_z

debi_z wrote:
hi karen,
oh there are so many to choose from. personally when i started, i chose ones that were less expensive. i purchased a mixed bag of asiatics, another of orientals and also 'stargazer' liliums, at home depot in february or march, planted them in april and away they went....blooming from july - august. each year they grew bigger and more healthy and some reproduced prolificly, especially the asiatics and one oriental, 'aruba'.
you can start them in the fall, but most orientals, are not ready to be taken from the ground until october. this can make for very cold planting times. you can do it, by preparing your holes early and then keeping your top soil in a warmer location, put the bulbs and some superphosphate in the bottom of the hole and cover with the dirt and some mulch.
well i got off topic a bit, but i hope you find the information worthwhile. i would choose ones i really like and are less expensive, to start. learn all you can from "the experts" around here and go for it. you will be sooooooooooo happy you did.
there are a lot of inexpensive 'named' asiatics and orientals. one note of caution....if you choose to plant tiger lilies in your gardens, plant them away from all other lilies. they can carry a virus that can effect your others.

good luck and let us know what you decide to plant. i get so excited every year watching mine grow and bloom and i remember those first blooms were fantastic! it was all over for me then, i was addicted. :-)
your gardening friend and my pekingese gardening doggi,
debi z & franklin
pic is of the mixed orientals there 2nd year blooming.

edited to change name of oriental lily from 'pink icicles' to 'aruba'. 'aruba' being the white and pink lily in the picture below.

This message was edited Aug 5, 2006 6:40 AM