The Reason

Last September, we had a tree cut down in the front yard. The tree was half dead. The hostas planted under it will be moved to another bed.

We also had those three leggy evergreens cut down (You only see the trunks.) They only have their crowns (tops) left after I keep cutting their branches off. I need the area to have sun exposure so I can grow some lilies and irises in there.

This is the front garden, one of the original flower beds of the house. We have another mature tree in this area. Lots of lilies are planted here and these lilies are the ones I am digging and come spring I hope I can move the hostas here. The digging continues and today, I dug the Bill Cramer lilies.

In Need of Heavy Rain

I purchased a garden fork to use in digging my lily bulbs. I learned my lesson that using a spade damages the bulbs.

Oriental/Trumpet Lily 'Anastasia'

The brand new fork.

I used it for the first time to dig Anastasia bulbs. The ground is bone dry and I am praying for some heavy rain as I still have lots of lily bulbs to dig. I made a new garden bed for my lilies for the reason that I need to separate them from the hostas. It will take a while before I can complete the move.

Anastasia bulbs, they are as pretty as the flower.

Lilium 'regale' bulbs.

Species lily 'regale', the most fragrant lily that I grow.

Various bulbs dug from the garden.

Fall

I have been busy cleaning up my flower beds, putting down mulch and digging up bulbs. There are still a few peformers that brings color to the fall landscape.

Amarcrinum

Dahlia

Rhodophiala bifida

Tom 'Purple Cherokee', waiting for them to ripen so I can pull it out.

'Purple Cherokee' harvest.

Wordless Wednesday: Rhodophiala bifida

The Last Blooming Lilies And Others

 The flower show is almost over, with a few blooms here and there. Since the weather has cool off a little bit, I started working in the garden. I started off with digging and dividng my irises. I am waiting for another month or so before I begin moving some of my lilies to a sunnier spot in the garden. Here are a few blooms from the garden.

The first two photos are of Scarlet Delight. An orienpet lily with short stature, about 3-4 feet tall.

Lilium Sweet Surrender, a new lily in my garden. It is kinda short as is the case of lilies planted in the spring. Next year, it will grow its normal height.

These are the only orientals that their buds had fully open. With the drought we have had here, my other orientals' buds dried off or failed to open. Their lower leaves fell off.

Lilium speciosum rubrum 'Uchida'

Another lily that grew short is Conca d' Or. I love the fragrance of this lily that I added a few more in my garden.

Weird Lilium henryi

Recent shot of my Gloriosa lilies.

Dahlia 'Roxy' with Eucomis bicolor.

Gladiolus 'Passos'

This Crinum just bloomed for me. Purchased as C. Stars and Stripes. On my research, it look like Crinum jagus var. rattrayi. It has plump buds, pure white flowers and gardenia-like fragrance.

Its leaves are dark green, erect and thick. The light green leaves in front are of Amarcrinum's. Happy weekend everyone.

Wordless Wednesday: Gloriosa rothschildiana

Nymph and Big Brother

Both of these lilies are OT (Oriental/Trumpet) and are strong grower. There is no need to stake them. Both have high bud count this year.

Big Brother has the biggest bloom I have ever seen in a lily.

Lilies Grown From Seeds

I started these lilies from seeds two years ago. From mixed trumpet seeds crossed by Paul Carter of Texas and mixed tetra Asiatic seeds from Dr. Griesbach.

First seedling.

Sister seedling.
Both of the above sister seedlings have green back and creamy yellow inside. The first is kind of bland in shape but it has more bud count for its maiden bloom. The second has the grace and flair of a trumpet. The tips of the petals curls back.

A yellow one came out of the mix. It has nice shape and will wait a couple of years to see its potential.

The above two photos are Asiatic Griesbach seedlings. The first one is a nice pink with yellowish blush and the second has subtle peach coloration with dots on the inner petals.