Confused Madonna Lily

Last autumn I planted 6 Madonna lilies. Five leafed out that autumn and the leaves stayed green through the winter. I didn't get any blooms in the spring and during our drought in the summer the leaves died back. I thought to myself "Great! Now they know what season it really is." But now they are once again leafing out (so far only four). They look very healthy but this is the wrong season---our frost date is sometime around mid-October even though this week it's in the 80's. What am I supposed to do? Should I cut them back or cover them up with something so that they leaf out and bloom when they're supposed to? I'm in zone 6a.

I believe it is normal for them to put up foliage in the fall and have it remain all winter. They should bloom on time next spring/summer. I would just let them be and wait to see if they put up a stem or just the foliage.

Mine always put foliage growth out now. I too believe it is normal for this species to do this in the early fall. It really acts a lot different than most other lilies. Also of importance is the difference in depth to plant. Around an inch deep is all.

I feel a lot better now. So it's not the plants that are confused, it's me! I'd love to see these things bloom. It makes me feel bad to see such healthy green growth sprout so close to our frost dates. I suppose like my dad always used to say---it's okay because they have anti-freeze.

Should I fertilize them or anything?

I just prepared the site when I planted them with compost and peat moss and they bloom early June here each year. One of the signs in my mind that summer has arrived.