Past Newsletters

Vol 4 No 9

The Finest Oriental

This Oriental hybrid, one of the most flamboyant personalities in the world of Lilies, is aptly named Acapulco. And you can count on these magnificent flowers to fill your whole room with an intense, intoxicating fragrance! Ed McRae, undoubtedly one of the most knowledgeable experts when it comes to lilies, touts Acapulco as perhaps the finest upright (blooms face up) oriental bred to date.

It's hard to compete with Acapulco's breathtaking light pink hues fading to rich hot pinks and magentas at the centers, and their tall graceful stems sporting several flowers. To complement Acapulco's striking beauty, our designers selected two very different green flowers with unusual forms and textures. These unique plants are sure to elicit lots of questions from your quests.

Green Amaranthus is a tender annual that is native to India, the Philippines, and other warm countries. Amaranthus sets the stage by dramatically cascading down your vase, while the Bells of Ireland stand as an extraordinary backdrop for your Acapulcos. The Bells, a symbol of good luck, are hardy annuals with pale green bell-shaped calyces along their stems - the tiny white flowers add just a hint of color to this otherwise all green flower.

Note: Ed McRae has been awarded many honors for his achievements in hybridizing lilies, and many consider him to be the world's leading authority. He is the author of a five star book, Lilies - A Guide for Growers and Collectors, that is considered to be the best resource about lilies that is currently available. McRae documents the origin of the wild lily species, as well as the creation of spectacular new hybrids. His book includes information about the biology of the lily plant, its propagation, and its cultivation. Having developed many new hybrids, Ed offers hands-on techniques for lily hybridizing, and comments on future developments.

SPECIAL CARE IS WARRANTED: Besides following our flower care directions, please note these Special Directions. Fill a container with lukewarm water, and add our fresh flower food at half the recommended strength. Lilies like to eat light. Place lilies away from bowls of fruit. As fruit ripens, it produces ethylene gas, which can shorten the vase life of some flowers. Lilies are particularly sensitive to this gas.

Before The Dawn of Civilization

The origin of lilies can be traced back to Asia, Europe and North America - they must have been very established before the continents broke apart. Up until the early part of the 20th century all lilies were the wild species, and as you can imagine, many were considered challenging to cultivate. They had a difficult time adapting when transplanted into a garden environment, and often had unpredictable growing patterns. In 1925, horticulturists began the rigorous and resolute work of developing new varieties that would be healthier, hardier, and easier to grow than their demanding and often misunderstood parents. Today, most of the lilies sold are hybrids, and not only are they more suitable for our gardens; they are also more spectacular than their ancestors.

In Italy and France, as well as America, lilies are enjoying a renaissance - they are among the most fashionable of flowers, and it's easy to see why. Modern hybrids combined with classic favorites have given us a myriad of choices. Luxurious and sophisticated as the finest silks and satins, yet affordable enough for everyday elegance, lilies will stand out in country bouquets, can be arranged to depict sophisticated contemporary lines and forms, and are vibrant additions to any garden.

It Just Looks Irish

The plant, whose flowers are called Bells of Ireland, is lightly scented and grows 24 to 36 inches tall. The white-veined green bells that cling closely to stems are not really flowers but enlarged calyces (the outer leaves that appear at the base of most flowers). The true flowers, tiny, fragrant, and white, are deep within the bells. This plant is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, primarily Syria. The genus, Moluccella laevis, gets its name from the Indonesian Molucca Islands, which were once mistakenly thought to be the flower's native land. We think their common name is based on their rich and vibrant green color, and chances are that the good luck stories just came along for the ride.

An excellent line flower with a vase life of 7-10 days, Bells of Ireland make a great addition to any arrangement, but they're especially effective when used in all foliage and contemporary arrangements. The Bells will also add interest to your dried flower arrangements for winter. Dry them in a cool, dark, airy location, and pick the sparse prickly textured leaves off the stems so that the Bells become more conspicuous. A word of caution watch out for the small thorns below each leaf. Their color will fade to light tan, but you can lightly dust them and your other dried flowers with spray paint. Try a light rose or pastel color, and then another light dusting of gold.

When you add them to your garlands, wreaths, and centerpieces, you will create sensational masterpieces take lots of pictures.

Add them to your garden: Since Bells of Ireland are difficult to transplant, sow the seeds outdoors when there is no longer any danger of frost, but while the weather is still cool. They germinate best at 50° in 3 to 5 weeks, grow well in average soil, and will not require side dressing if the soil is rich in organic matter. Space the plants 12 to 16 inches apart, and water deeply in dry weather. Deep watering aids the formation of a good root mass which is important to support these tall annuals.

Their display won't last long, but they will flower for a few weeks in summer, and then you can dry them for more fun in the winter. Once the flowers fade they will not flower again, so the plants can be removed after they shed seeds that will germinate the following year.

Drama Queens

Amaranthus plants, also know as cat's tail, are natives of India, the Philippines, and other warm countries. Amaranthus was considered indispensable to romantic Victorian gardens. The many varieties of this plant range from 2 to 8 feet tall, their leaves are long and oval (2 to 4 inches long), and there is even a variety of amaranthus that is edible.

Their long-lasting blooms and blazing colors will add lots of interest to your garden as borders and/or backgrounds. Use their tassels in your arrangements for drama and creative line, and then dry them for your winter bouquets.

These fast growing annuals begin to produce tassels of flowers in late June, before the plants get tall, so be sure to use mulch or the tassels will get muddy after a good rain. Depending on the variety, the tassels will be wine, red, yellow, purple, or chartreuse, like the ones you have received. One type of amaranthus has spectacular leaves some have yellow to scarlet and green foliage all on one plant, others have yellow to orange, and even florescent pink at the ends. Of course they are a striking bedding plant for the foliage, but they also produce erect deep red flower spikes which are about 6 inches long and good for cutting. You can see several distinct varieties at http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds.

For The Love Of Lily

Bring a tropical flavor to your garden by including several varieties of oriental lilies. Their heady fragrances drench the air, and their spectacular blooms add an exotic ambience to your garden and your home. Then relax with a great book in your favorite hammock, breathing in their sweet bouquets on a warm afternoon.

Fertile, humus rich, well-drained soil that is slightly on the acidic side, is what they ask for. If you don't have it, you can make it - just get the ingredients from your local nursery. If your soil is mostly clay, try a raised bed. Lilies really need good drainage. Full sun is best, but during the hottest part of the day, light shade will be appreciated. These somewhat persnickety beauties like their roots kept cool, but don't let that worry you too much. A good mulch, or a ground cover to shade the soil, will make them very happy. Pine needles are ideal since they keep the soil on the acid side.

If you live where slugs are prevalent, don't forget the bait. Of course you will want to bring some of your beauties inside, but leave as much of the stalk as possible when you cut them. The foliage feeds the bulb for next year's flowers, so be sure to leave the stalk until it gets brown.

When your bulbs are planted in the Spring, they won't flower as well that first year, but next year they will be glorious, and you will want to plant even more bulbs in Fall. Lily bulbs never go completely dormant, so getting them in the ground before it gets cold is probably a good idea. Plant the bulbs six to ten inches deep depending on their size. A good rule of thumb is plant to a depth of 3 times the bulb height. Water them in well, and apply a thick compost mulch over the top. In fact, give all of your lilies new mulch after your fall clean up.

About that Pollen

In the heart of their flowers, lilies have anthers covered with a dusty reddish gold pollen that can stick and stain clothing, table cloths, upholstery even your fingers. Some folks clip the anthers from the flowers before arranging them, others think this makes the flower look unnatural and prefer to deal with pollen. If treated quickly and correctly, wayward pollen is quite easy to remove.

DO NOT brush the pollen off fabric with your hands or dab with water or a moistened cloth - this will spread the pollen and oils from your skin will set the stain. The easiest solution is to use the adhesive on tape to lift the pollen. If some pollen remains, place the item in direct sunlight for a few hours; the stain should magically disappear. Pollen stains can usually be removed from washable fabrics with pre-wash stain removers.

GREAT NEWS - The Oriental hybrid Tiara, the first high quality, true pollen-free lily is now readily available. As you can imagine, it's already a popular choice in wedding bouquets. Look for others to follow.

Arrangement Tips

The Bells of Ireland will look best tall and in criss-cross placement. place the Acapulco Lillie the same as the tall green bells of Ireland, the hanging green amaranthus is the same color and will have a cascading effect at the lower front of the vase. Remember to clean the polem as the lillies open and Do Not touch with your fingers if you get it on your clothing.