My White Lily Garden
My Bedford, New York farm is overflowing with lilies.
Last year, we transformed the area in front of my main greenhouse into a more formal garden with hostas and white lilies. The beds were planted in a grid pattern, framing squares across the entire area and then filling each square with about 25 lilies in each, organized by height from back to front. The lilies came from Zabo Plant, a wholesale bulb supplier in The Netherlands. Some of the varieties include: 'Severn', 'Saronno', 'Kayenta', 'Maxima', 'Crystal Blanca', 'Zambesi', 'Nova Zembla', 'Seine', 'Castellani', 'San Christina', 'Serena Madonna', and 'Roselily Angela'. They bloomed so beautifully last summer, and this year the flowers look even more vibrant.
Enjoy these photos.
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- In the spring of last year, the two garden beds in front of my main greenhouse were completely transformed. These areas used to be home to my currant bushes, but I wanted to create a more formal garden. Here is one side just before we planted a border of hostas.
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- This is what it looked like after the hostas were planted and all the lily bulbs were in the ground. Symmetry is a very important aspect of any formal garden.
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- In late June of last year, the stems had grown to waste-high and all the hostas were established. My gardens grow so well because of the great soil I use. Every year, I amend it with rich compost made right here on the farm.
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- By last summer, we had dozens of beautiful white lilies. In front of the two beds, we planted a row of boxwood. These boxwood shrubs were grown here at the farm from small bare-root cuttings.
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- Look how much fuller everything is – the boxwood, the hostas, and the growing lilies. This photo was taken in mid-June.
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- The boxwood shrubs are filling the spaces so nicely, and so quickly.
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- And the hostas are also looking vibrant and lush.
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- By the beginning of July, the buds of the lilies are already beginning to open.
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- In this photo taken a couple of weeks ago, many flowers are blooming. Lilies need at least six hours of full sunlight daily. This sunlight exposure is what enables the lilies to produce their vibrant flowers.
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- And then by last week, look at all the stunning white lilies growing in the beds. These lilies have stronger stems than some of the other lilies in my gardens. They are also a bit shorter, so they don’t need individual staking.
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- Oriental lilies are known for their fragrant perfume and gorgeous blooms. These lilies have a fast growth rate and should be planted in well-drained loamy or sandy soil.
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- All the lilies in this garden are white, but vary in form and have large flowers.
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- Here is a double flower form lily that is more than six inches across.
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- We’ve had several days of 90-degree weather here in the Northeast. Fortunately, lilies can withstand these temperatures.
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- The perfect spot for lilies has morning sun and late afternoon shade because it protects them from the burning hot mid-day sun. They will hold their flowers longer and the color is better when they receive some shade during the day.
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- Many lilies have six tepals each. The tepals are free from each other and bear a nectary at the base of each bloom. When cutting lilies, to avoid any pollen issues, pull the anthers off of each flower. Pollen is an important part of a lily’s anatomy, but it is notorious for staining flesh and fabric. Removing the anthers also prevents any pollen from getting on the flower petals, which can eat away at the delicate flower parts and shorten the life of the blooms.
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- These lilies have a lot of pollen, so If you happen to get a pollen stain on your clothing, do not rub! Instead, reach for a roll of tape and use the sticky side to gently dab the area – the particles will adhere to the tape.
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- And when cutting lilies, only cut the length you need for the vase, nothing extra. Any foliage or stem that you leave on the plant will feed the bulb for the next year.
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- The hostas around and in between the lilies are also looking fuller this year. Hosta is a genus of plants commonly known as hostas, plantain lilies, and occasionally by the Japanese name giboshi. Hostas are widely cultivated as shade-tolerant foliage plants.
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- Behind the beds, I decided to plant a hedge of hornbeams in front of the greenhouse windows and bordering the gardens on two sides. These were planted last fall and are also thriving. It will be a lovely backdrop for these gorgeous lilies.
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- I have been so pleased with the way this garden has grown. I am looking forward to making many, many flower arrangements with all these pretty blooms. And be sure to see more lily photos on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48.
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