mamajack-
IS YOUR SOIL ALKALINE?
You may want to try to acidify the soil for the orientals, the Asiatics and LA's like a neutral and the Trumpets/aurelians are supposed to like alkaline soil, but the aurelians do fine here in acidic soil, so do the asiatics and LA's. Sulfur is the easiest way to acidify it, can be found at some farm supply stores in powder form, sometimes in flakes for burning (gets gophers when you burn it). Or you can get the expensive rhododendron fertilizer.
are pre-cooled lilies really a bad idea?
yes it is alkaline. no i don't want to grow things that don't want to grow here. asiatics do really well. and a few of the others. i would like to get them in the fall one year just to see how much better they do than the ones i have gotten in the spring. most of the co-ops in the spring arrive too late for me anyway.
Barb, spring planted Lilies often tend to be stunted the first year, but return the next year in full force (if they're happy). You're right though, typically those planted in fall develop a good root system and are ready to grow to full potential in spring.