You are invited! Please join us for the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society’s annual “Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Show” on Wednesday, August 10 from 1:00 PM till 5:00 PM at St. Gerard’s Parish Complex. Have coffee, and browse through the beautiful displays and exhibits.
You’ll see veggies, cut flowers, fruit, flower arrangements, and planter arrangements. Horticultural group members are eager to show you what their hard work in the garden has accomplished this year, and seeing lovely plants and flowers is a great way to spend the afternoon! Your admission includes coffee or tea and dainties! Please plan to join us! Bring a friend, (or two or three!). Everyone is welcome!
The other day, at a coffee party for a dear friend’s birthday, the topic of lilies came up in the conversation, and with it, this question: why do we remove the anthers from cut lilies? Just to refresh your memory from science class, the anther is the pollen-covered part of the flower at the end of the stamens. You know that it is common practise to remove the anthers when you are bringing the cut lilies indoors. Several theories were floating around the room that day, so it was time for me to do some homework and find out for sure!
The first is purely practical and correct: the anthers are removed so that pollen doesn’t fall off and stain your clothing or that special tablecloth. To remove them safely, hold the cut lily away from you and gently slide your fingers over the stamens. The anthers will easily pop into your hand. Dispose of them promptly and carefully: just like spilling a small glass of water seems to get everything wet in a four foot radius, dropping even one anther seems to result in pollen everywhere!
The second reason, also correct, is that removing the anthers make the lilies last longer. I read that when the pollen falls on the petals, it can be damaging because it begins deterioration of the petals, so best to remove the anthers immediately.
The third theory was that removing the anthers helps reduce the scent of the lily. While the Asiatic lilies do not have much of a scent, Oriental lilies like Stargazer or Madonna have a very heady, strong perfume that is not always enjoyed by all people. And while I have heard this scent-reducing theory several times, to my surprise I did not find any information that said it was actually so. I guess we have to press the “wrong” buzzer on this theory!
Correct care of cut lilies will extend their life and your enjoyment of this beautiful flower. Besides removing the anthers, be sure to cut the stems at a 45 degree angle to provide maximum area for the flowers to drink in water. Remove any foliage that will fall below the water like: decaying foliage will quickly make the flowers spoil. Do not put the cut lilies in direct sunlight; try and keep them in a cool area.
If you don’t have lilies in your garden, maybe you will want to add them to your collection. They are beautiful, easy care plants with minimal requirements: they like well-drained soil and a spot where they will get at least half a day of sunshine. Plant the bulbs about four to six inches deep. Once established, they will give beauty and color to your garden for years to come!
To check out horticultural society events, log on to www.yorktonhort.ca; you’ll find a list of meetings and events that are coming up!
Have a great week, and be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen!
