Lilies of July

Back when I was a kid in Tulsa, reading the Sunday garden column in the Tulsa World, I learned that July is for lilies. That seems to be true around here this year as well. Most of our lilies, like this golden one by the driveway at right, are inherited from our home's former owners.

In the side border are some spectacular tiger lilies that are taller than I am. This is one of the first blooms to open. I'm always entranced by their exotic look. They are hardy and multiply and they even do well in fairly deep shade.

This year did bring some surprises on the lily front. The yellow one at right appeared in the front flower bed among some lilies we had planted, as well as some we moved about three years ago from another border. I hadn't seen this yellow bloom until this year. However, checking around town, yellow lilies seem to be Everywhere this year.

This lovely pinkish lily appeared in the midst of some plain orange daylilies that we moved about three years ago as well. We have never seen it before. But it's a welcome sight.

Three years ago I couldn't resist these red lilies at a garden center so we bought them and put them in one of the lily beds we were trying to start. They are shorter than the others and get lost at the back of the border but they are a bright spot if you go looking for them.

Both Debbie B in Hutch and my former student Carrie are featuring plants on their blogs this week, too. Must be in the air.