did you know?

Lilies have been cultivated for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks admired the fragrant white Madonna lily which they associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. The Romans used its bulb medicinally. But it has only been in the last 75 years that extensive breeding has resulted in so many garden-worthy hybrids.

general maintenance:

Stake lilies so the stems are supported in wind and rain. Select a bamboo stake slightly shorter than the flower stalk (a 4-foot stake is ideal), place it close to the stem, and plant it firmly in the soil, taking care not to damage the bulb. Loosely tie stake and stem together with garden twine.

pests/diseases:

Deer and rabbits may eat plants. Gray mold may occur during especially wet seasons.

controls:

Deter deer and rabbits with fencing or apply organic repellent spray, following label directions. To control gray mold, remove and destroy infected flowers and foliage. Increase spacing between plants to improve air circulation, and reduce watering.

how to sow/plant:

Plant in spring or fall, as soon as bulbs are available. Bulbs vary in size; set them 3 times as deep as they are wide, usually 6?8 inches deep, and the same distance apart. Plant in groups of at least 3; Martha usually plants a dozen in a sweep. Water after planting.

water and fertilize:

Monitor soil moisture all season; do not allow soil to dry out. In early spring when shoots emerge and again after flowers fade, feed with an all-purpose bulb fertilizer, following label directions.

garden hint:

Unlike daffodil and tulip bulbs, lily bulbs never go fully dormant, so they must be treated carefully and should be protected from drying out before planting.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Fragrant

garden uses:

• Containers
• Edging
• Flowerbed borders

other uses:

• Cut Flower

combine with:

perennials and shrubs. Lilies are especially beautiful with roses. Martha plants them in perennial and cutting gardens. Like clematis, lilies like to have their roots kept cool, moist, and shaded with their heads in the sun.