What a week! Thank you to everyone who helped to make the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Show last week a success: all the exhibitors who so generously shared their time, garden gifts and creativity with us; everyone who helped set up and take down; everyone who contributed to and helped with the lovely lunch; our friendly greeters at the door; and of course, all our gardening friends who attended the show! The Society works hard to make a pleasing show, so it is wonderful when you all come out and enjoy it! We’re always so happy to see you! Thank you!
We were recently invited to visit the wonderful garden of an excellent gardener, and generous gardening friend. His beautiful garden took us through several mini-vistas as we strolled along: first was a curving flower bed, full of shrubs and flowering annuals and perennials along his front lawn. Next, we walked through an elegant wooden gate along a stone walkway through a cool and shady hosta paradise, with many lovely hostas, and you know how they are my favorite!
The walkway led us into the grassy back yard, and here we saw many beautiful lilies and perennials at various stages of bloom. The scent of the Stargazer lilies filled the warm evening air. We saw so many gardening delights! Amazing planters, bursting and overflowing with a great diversity of foliage plants, some reaching up for the sun and some tumbling over the edge of the planter in glorious abandon. Planters bright and colorful with alstromeria. Stunning calla lilies at every turn, each one so beautiful, especially the creamy “Picasso” with the dark purple throat. Lush perennials that looked as beautiful as in the seed catalogues.
And then we saw something so unusual and beautiful, a tree lily. It was a breathtaking sight, about five feet high, with an abundance of colorful lilies. I knew nothing about this wonderful specimen, so I thought I would do some homework and we can learn about it together.
The tree lily is a cross between Asiatic and Oriental lilies, perennials that carry the best of both types of lilies. Even though they are called “trees”, they are really very tall, very sturdy lilies, and come in a wide variety of colors.
As with other lilies, the tree lily likes a spot that has good drainage and full or partial sun. If we were adding this plant to our garden, we would plant them about twelve inches deep, and give them about twelve inches elbow room between them and their nearest plant neighbor. As the season progresses, staking them might be a good idea just so they don’t get broken in the wind, although they have such strong, thick stems that they would probably be just fine on their own.
They die back completely in the fall, but will come back in the spring and the clump will grow over the years. And guess what, they are hardy in our cold climate, but it would probably be a good idea to give them a little extra protection for the winter, either with a layer of mulch or leaves over top.
A relatively easy-care plant that will be a definite focal point in any garden! If you are compiling a list of “things to try next year”, you’ll want to add the tree lily to your list!
Are you taking a tour of your garden each day? Please do, because there is something new and lovely every day if we take the time to look. Mom always did her daily garden tour, and it was an inspiring and refreshing way to begin her day! Try it!
Have a good week, dear gardeners! Visit us at www.yorktonhort.ca
