I am looking for the Madonna Lily and looked to see who have them for sell and they have a very high price on them, so I was hoping that someone knew where you could get them at a reasonable price.
First I would like to know why they are costly?
I know they are very beautiful and would go in the Mary's Garden that I am looking to put in.
Where to Buy A Madonna Lily
Can't help you with your questions, but was wondering if this site might be of interest to you http://www.mgardens.org/index.html About a third of the way down is a selection of plants for the Mary Garden.
currently www.gurneys.com is having a sale buy $50.00 of any plants and deduct $25.00 from your total.. so its basically buy $50 for $25.. and they have Madonna Lilies!
This is tough - I ordered them from a company that sent me regale album! But I got the real thing from the same company in 2003 and they were exquisite! By 2006 they were fading. I think I looked at the same sites you did, and WOW they are expensive.
I'm only speculating here about the high cost. Firstly, they are somewhat virus prone. And secondly, they must be planted upon receipt, which is usually in October.
Because they are expensive and have relatively short lives, I am growing the from seed as I type. It is the Cascade Strain, which is more disease resistant. I got the seeds from the North American Lily Society for $1.00. They were supplied by the late, great Ed McRae. 4 of the 6 I started have germinated, and although I know I should hold them over for a year I may put them in the ground in October. At about a nickle each, losing them is not a big deal.
Donna
Caveat emptor http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/184/
Buggy Crazy, I thought had them. You might email that very, very reputable seller. A second suggestion where I have seen them is Brent and Becky's bulbs. Both of those sellers are more reputable than Guerney's.
Also of note, the true proper planting time for the Madonna Lily is right now through about mid-September. They need to acclimate to their new homes before snow flies. You also plant them quite shallowly, about an inch. They have almost an evergreen foliage that does not go dormant. I see it before snow cover and the moment snow has melted.
I would caution you to buy from a place that sends them at the proper time. Failing to plant early enough may mean you lose your bulbs.
Good luck. Do let us know what you find.
I knew Buggy Crazy had them somewhere! Here you go.
http://davesgarden.com/products/market/view/7934/
Hi Tracey. I'm wondering if you know the answer to this question. On July 22 of this year I started seeds for Lilium Candidum Cascade Strain. The seeds came from NALS (Ed McRae!) and I started six in individual cells. 2 germinated by August 6 and 2 more by August 20. I did this somewhat impulsively.
I know that they are normally planted in the next couple of weeks. In you opion, should I put them in the ground in a couple of weeks, or hold them over for a year (which is possible - shop light, timers, the whole shebang). On the other hand, I have plenty of seeds, so if it doesn't work I can start from scratch in January.
What do you think?
Donna
Edited to add that Buggy makes reference to seedlings, not bulbs. Is this an oversight or is she sending a bigger version of what I'm growing.
This message was edited Aug 29, 2009 11:45 AM
When I refer to seedlings I often refer to something I have started from seed. She is usually great about what size (blooming or not blooming size) she is selling you, the prospective buyer.
I would let your seedlings get a little more developed before setting it outside. You could let it advance a few more months under lights and perhaps in February or March, give them an 8 week cold period, then get them onto a normal cycle of growth outside the end of May, planting them out next August.
If it seems to be too much hassle, then start all over this winter with other seed. It just depends on the amount of effort you want to put into it.
Or you could try it outside and see what happens.
Sometimes trial and error is okay, and will happen no matter what you do ;)
Tracey,
I think I'll take your advice and advance them a bit more. I have them in self watering trays with a timer and florescent lights, so what the heck. I just pasted your instructions in my file, so I can put them on my calendar. It is so cool to have someone to ask. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Oh, I should stay that my clumsy prose may have seemed to disparage Buggy. Let me say right now that if I weren't growing them I would grab hers.
Thank you!
Donna
The Madonna I have left on clearance are seedlings and very small, the larger ones were sold off on my website. I will no longer produce bulbs - only seed from a couple that I am keeping. They are too difficult to sell at the proper planting time, do not pay to grow and my site is not fit to live on, much less grow those out in the field. Most places in Western Oregon they grow fine, but due to the high cost of living here and Oregon's anti farming laws we were unable to buy a decent place and have a nightmare of a microclimate here.
Seedlings will generally satay green all year for the first 2 growing seasons and do not go dormant in late summer as the adults do. In a harsher climate they will need winter protection, here we just get too much rain and frost so our growing season is shorter than just a few miles away, and there is no sun in the spring, winter or fall, just cold blowing fog or rain or lots of hail and snow. Winter is now my favorite time of year as the weather usually means some peace and quiet at least! It is the only time I can actually enjoy gardening.
Dear Buggy,
Wow, thank you for chiming in. I can really understand why you don't want to deal with madonnas - they are, I find, very temperamental. That's why I thought I'd try the seed route. When they're wonderful they're wonderful. Or else they don't turn up at all.
And, by the way, a pox on anyone who makes your gardening difficult. So many neat people here just love your plants.
Donna