Tess, my Luminaries was a disappointment for me my first year, also. I figured that I would never see that one again. What a surprise, when the giant shot up last year!
I got my Midnight from B&D and it was a really pretty mixture of purple amd pink. Even though I have amended my soil a lot (it is no longer suitable for use in a potting class),
my soil tends toward the akaline. I have learned this through pink iris, which have very interesting colorations. No problmes with lilies however. If my Midnight does not get hit with a short killer heat, I will get pictures of it this year.
Rita, despite what I said about Midnight above, my Purple Prince was decidedly pink. Frankly I didn't believe my plant marker.
Silk Road
Well, I guess I will see what color mine decide to be.
Here's what they say about Midnight, copied straight from the website-
"Midnight’ Strain is a rare trumpet in the deepest, richest hue of purple. Even in our hottest weather, this lily holds its rich color. "
Humm...
Moby, even though it is not purple, I LOVE your "Midnight" trumpets - beautiful color!!
Rita, you have to try the Orienpets (OT's) - they have the best qualities of both Orientals and Trumpets and are really tough. And there are more and more to choose from every year!
Yes, my lily collection is branching out from the plain Asiactics and Orientals I had last year. I can't wait to get all these expensive new ones I ordered in the past few days. They should be great when they bloom.
I do remember having afew trumpet lillies in my old house many years ago. They were just a plain white but one bloom open and you could smell it in the entire backyard. Thats why I wanted to get trumpets again, I love the scent.
And remember Rita the OT's (many of them, at least) can get really tall - as lincolnitess mentioned was the case with hers, my Silk Roads have gotten over 7" tall as well and 6' or more after three years is typical. Stems are much thicker/stronger than on a typical trumpet though you still may need to stake the biggest ones when the flowers open - I know I do! You already have an awesome garden and these will just add to it and extend/fill in your bloom season.
Tall is good for were I want to plant. In fact the shorter lilies of 3-4 would not look as good as 6 feet or taller.
Last year I completely redid my driveway side yard garden. Between my driveway and the fence and my neightbors driveway. It was overgrown azaleas and weedly things no matter how hard I tried to make it nice. Took out all weeds and azealeas. Replanted new azaleas in "islands" which are some shrubs and Joe Pie Weed (tall) in back. Dug down and out all roots and put truckload of compost and then planted lots of daylilies. The daylilies are between the shrub sections. It looks pretty good. The plan was to put lilies and spring flowering bulbs between the daylilies. So far I had not gotten to the later part of the plan. But now have the lilies ordered for the pack row nearest the fence. Then I can put in the bulbs this fall.
I know I will not have it all finished this year but I should be a long way into getting it the way that I want.
You know, I have seen many fantastic gardens and like them all. The difference between my garden and others I see is the mix of things growing here. For instance there are fabulous gardens I saw this summer from the members of the daylily club. Then there were the people with fabulous rose gardens, those that have lots and lots of flowering and or fruiting shrubs and so forth.
I remember seeing someones gardens that had an acre of rhodos. Very beautiful in spring but then just a woods (to my mind) the rest of the year. I like so many diffent things and always want something going on in the garden. Plus I very much like the cottage garden look. I just keep planting.
Steve, I agree with you. If you pick OT's that grow tall, they will! There are so many variations with them, that you can get all sorts of different facing ones and a huge variety of colors. Lily Pad had a "pot sized" OT this year called Mistress and I am looking forward to seeing how it comes out, not only this uear but the next.
Donna,
Your lilies look terrific against your grasses and greenery. You have a great way of utilizing different textures in your yard that has a really neat effect.
I agree with Ticker (Diann) on how can someone not like peonies!! LOL Oh well, I know someone else who loves peonies and lilies but hates daylilies. I for one don't like ornamental grasses (other than the kind in your lawn) though Donna somehow makes them look really nice. ^_^ Interesting how we all have such different tastes!
True Marty - not much else out there gives so much "bang" in a bulb! I think lilies are one of the best perennial values, period.
Rita, My garden is in the cottage garden style, just smaller and drought tolerant. I think that it is fun to have all sorts of colors shapes and textures in a garden. Also when I got rid of the grass, which i have never like, I decided that my drought tolerant garden would not have cactus and would have something in bloom all 12 months of the year. While there a drawbacks to my zone, there are definitely advantages.
Right Steve, along with re-blooming bearded iris. LOL
I am with you on the cactus, marty - HATE them LOL
Hey Steve, thanks for the sweet compliment. What I want to know is how you get six foot tall Silk Roads. Is it that southern air? (oh, and I hate cactus too). Ornamental grasses were one of my first passions (along with lilies, roses, peonies, ferns and ornamental shrubs) but they can be horribly used. They usually look like drek. And they have to be cared for with compost, timely trimming and watering. Fortunately for us, when we were building, we were offered a $200 "landscape consultation" by the firm that a few years later created the plan and planting for Millenium Park downtown. They were much less known them. I asked for a garden plan based on ornamental grasses, and ornamental shrubs like lilacs and crabapples and pagoda dogwoods. What I got was great bones. And great ideas - bayberries for the front, dwarf fothergillas for the north side. Neat stuff. I just kept adding and adding and adding to them.
And don't smack me - I don't have a single daylily LOL!
Donna
It is funny how our tastes vary. My grandmother always grew Peonies, so I've always had a sentimental fondness for them, but I never grew very many because of the space they take for a short show. I've got lots of space and sun now, so I'm adding every one I can get my grubby paws on these days, LOL. I never lost my childhood love of burying my face in those soft petals and sniffing!
Rita, do you grow Dahlias? That's another I fear is growing into an addiction with me. I love them blooming with Lilies, and they keep the garden colorful after the Lilies fade.
Donna, while I do grow some, Daylilies have never grabbed me like they do so many folks. There's a handful of varieties I wouldn't want to be without because of being carefree work horses in certain spots, but thankfully I've not gotten into collecting them- I have too many obsessions as it is, LOL.
Peonies!!!!! Did someone say Peonies! Oh how I love them!!!!! They're right up there with lilies, orchids, hydrangeas, lilacs, roses and irises in my mind. Got a whole bunch from the peony coop last summer and can you believe some have buds already and they just went in the ground this fall. They're planted with lilies and daffodils.
I lik the big obsene hostas and ferns too. Anything with boosomy perfumey flowers. And, I much prefer the "Monet" colours. Can't stand the oranges and reds. Did anyone see the remake of "Stepford Wives". Looking at those gardens I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Bet the shrinks here could have a field day with this huh.
I think the shrinks could have a field day with all of us. :D
Gem,
It's funny, but peonies are just about the last thing I'm adding, and I wonder why I waited so long. In fact, I started growing double tulips because they looked like peonies, and double petunias in an orchid shade because they looked like peonies, and coveted the rose Constance Spry because the flowers looked like peonies. But I didn't get it until I saw three pink peonies in a neighbors yard, and then White Flower Farm had a bumper crop of Festiva Maximas and was selling THREE for $19.95. I looked at the pictures, swooned, ordered, and of course that wasn't enough. I cut out sections of lawn for my peony bed. I keep finding places all over to put them. I find them even more addictive than old garden roses.
Yedhuith, you made me laugh. Boosomy performed flowers. Monet colors! I remember telling Steve I was a doubles kind of gal. But I'm expanding and enjoying it. I always was wary of Red Charm, but did you see Steve's! I can't wait til Burma Ruby blooms. And White Cap.
I think the shrinks will call gardening great therapy!
Donna
This message was edited Apr 15, 2009 9:48 AM
Rita, did you get what you needed? We've gone a bit off topic. You sound like you've developed a lovely cottage garden. It's neat that lilies will be part of it.
Donna
Donna, I think one reason I've waited has been my need for instant gratification. The expense along with the wait with Peonies kept them on my "D list" for some time. I think now I've got enough to bloom and keep my eyes and nose happy that I don't mind the wait, LOL.
I love peonies too. There's something so magical about when a lily or a peony opens. The time when these flowers just start to open is my favorite. It never fails to amaze me.
Silk Road from last year
Last year I had a supposed Midnight Lily...looks just like Regale to me and the vendor agreed. They offered to reship but several DG'ers mentioned their experience with it so I passed. I have wanted Lumaries for several years now...may have to check it out!
You know, Gem, I think you hit on something there. I do think immediate gratification had to do with it. Heck, if I get a new rose from a first class company like Antique Rose Emporium or Pickering, I can install it in April and it blooms in June. Peonies - well, maybe it blooms the first year, or the second, or the third. But once you experience it your hooked. I agree, Velnita, peonies and lilies are magical.
So nice to know that other people adore the same things.
Donna
Rita, didn't mean to derail your thread with tangents, but I think we can all see you're a kindred spirit with excitement and a growing love of gardening :-) Can't help but "spread the love" LOL.
Back to Silk Road, mine (started 3 years ago from 1 free bulb from TLG) was in the backhoe path of destruction last fall, and I'm not finding any errant sprouts. Others in the path are showing up in odd places, I haven't given up hope yet. But the thought of losing it makes me sick! Why can't it be one I have cheap sources for? LOL
Someone just asked me about Dahlias. No, I don't grow them because I can't. Or maybe I should say I try but they don't grow. I am a total falure at them. Each year for the past four years, I plant about twelve of the tubers each spring. Buy whatever looks good to me in new colors at the local nursery. I am lucky if two of the darn things come up and then the slugs always seem to find the plants. I am an expenienced gardener. Honestly. I have a green thumb. But Dahlias have been a disaster for me. They are such a lovely flower. There must be a Dahlia forum. Maybe I will go over there and find out what I do wrong,
Back to the liliies, I really want to get beauty and scent into my garden this year.
Eh, I don't think your garden lacks beauty... :)
I meant scent and beauty combined in the lily bulbs. I did not have any of the trumpets, trumpet hybrids or orienpets and thats the new ones I ordered. I think this will add an extra kick to my garden by just making it more pretty.
I am only adding 3 new lilies this spring from McClure & Zimmerman http://www.mzbulbspring.com/sp.asp?c=97
They don't have a very large selection but the prices and shipping are great!! I bought some White Henryi bulbs from them last fall and they were very nice. Of course have to wait until bloom time for a 2 thumbs ups for sure!
I just ordered the Auratum Platyphllum, Speciosum Album & Shocking.
Gemini,
No one should be without Silk Road. Shall I send you one in the fall? Let me know.
Donna
Rita,
I can't grow Dahlias for anything. In no time flat they get powdery mildew in my garden, which I don't want to get started and infecting other plants. Marty
Nanny,
I've always been awed by the beauty of Auratum, although I think I'd have to grow it in a pot. It's really stunning.
Donna
This message was edited Apr 15, 2009 8:06 AM
I had never seen it before and I have nothing else like it. Need some yellows. It does get hard to find things that are different. I noticed last year all the pink and whites I have with Silk Road, Anastasia, Invasion & Triumphator. SO no more of those right now!!
nanny56, I have lots of yellows - Gambetta is really nice, as well as Rococo and the famous Conca D'Or
Donna, you're such a sweetie! I'd be thrilled to trade ya for one this fall :-)
Gem,
Sending you a d-mail.
Donna
I know of Conca D'Or & Rococo. Will have to look Gambetta up!
Okay just looked it up...That is a MUST HAVE!!!! WOW
This message was edited Apr 15, 2009 8:46 AM
The yellow OTs have captivated me too, love em! This year I've added Mistress, Baruta, and Belladonna- can't wait to see those bloom. Last year I got some nice ones from Faraway Flowers, Tarragona, Veranda, and another I can't recall off hand (possibly Gambetta- that rings a bell)- I'm really excited to see these in their 2nd year!
Yelloween is a sturdy, vigorous grower and has nice fragrance (but not too strong), I like it, but it just doesn't quite have the "look" of most of the OTs that I so love. It looks more like an LA hybrid on steroids.
Rococo is one I've been drooling over since its introduction! Will have to wait till that one comes down in price, I've sworn myself to only buy in 3's or more, and can't quite justify the expense of 3 Rococo. Seems when I plant 1 bulb of something special, the "1 bulb curse" , as I call it, so often rears its ugly head. Its always the single, special ones that fall victim to nibbling vermin, getting broken, or some kind of mishap.
I planted Tarragona last year too (it was a bonus from Hallson). It was very pretty and stuck around for a long time but I was sad that it doesn't have much of a scent. With a scent it would be perfect.
Wow...Rococo is pricy. Does anyone have a pic of it to add to plantfiles? I didn't see it listed (perhaps I just missed it somewhere).
Gambetta is gorgeous. Is it fragrant?
Got a notice from White Flower Farm that my Silk Road bulbs shipped out. Hurray!!