Do you fall in love with certain flowers at different
stages in your lifetime of garden making?
I seem to do just that and I get hung up on collecting different flowers which usually stems from falling in
love with just one flower that I have planted in a
season.
In the Fall of 2008 I fell in love with lilies after
attending the local Lily Fest. The sponsors of the Fest
were a local couple, the Bishop’s, had planted beds and beds of lilies on their property. The beds of lilies were just gorgeous and the ones planted in some of the woodland beds really inspired me.
I had a few lilies growing in beds and liked the
effortless growing and beauty of them,
so that got the old brain to spinning and well I had this
piece of ground along the front of my woods so…
The “Woodland” bed was begun. I dug and dug and
planted up a storm. Of course you have to have more than just lilies so tulips, daffodils, coneflowers and many irises (which is another growing collection) were added.
The first Spring was a disaster because the local deer
population liked lilies and tulips too. Most were eaten
down to dirt level in one night alone and I was ready to take up the shotgun and declare my own hunting season on deer.
I was just heart sick to say the least. Those of you who have
these four legged eating machines know exactly how I felt.
So not wanting to go on a deer shooting spree because the
game wardens really frown upon it here and the fines are very steep, I had to be prepared last Spring for the sweet
little, doe eyed Bambi’s.
After reading and getting advise from several bloggers
and gardeners, I was going to take no chances so I
would just do all of the tricks.
I strung nylon cord around that whole section of the
woods around trees and on stakes to spook the deer
and get them to take a different path than the one they
were use to traveling into our yard. The nylon cord is
better if it is an invisible brand but I could find none
around here in the local stores. I also hung garlic clips
at different sections along the cord and I also used a
different brands of liquid deer repellants throughout
the summer. I did not want them getting use to just
one fragrance. although how anyone or thing could
ever get use to that smell is beyond me.
Prairie Blue Eyes
It paid off because the deer went a different direction
and I finally got to see some of the lilies bloom for the
first time in the Woodland bed last Summer.
Snow Princess Stargazer
While some of the lilies came back very well after their first chomping experience some did not bloom at all, but I am hoping this Summer they will bloom for me.
Windsor Castle
Little Business
Unknown Orange Asiatic
Oh, I don’t know!
Pardon Me
and of course Stella d’ Oro are some of the
ones that bloomed for me.
Along with other plants grown from seeds throughout
the last Summer were added, this Fall I added daffodils
and more irises along this bed for this Spring.
The woodland bed has some shade and some sun
so I can add a variety of plantings to it.
I can only see the Woodland bed expanding with more
and more plants in the years ahead.
(If I kill all of the deer)
Happy Gardening,
Lona
37 comments:
Looks like all of your hardwork paid off. I do hope you get even more blooms this coming season. I wonder if fishing line would work, wouldn't want you walking into it though. Don't forget you can spray garlic oil as well.
Gorgeous photography! I fell for lilies too a few years ago and ordered several. I'm looking forward to them this year. A co-worker uses Irish Spring soap to deter deer. She says it works.
Lona, I am totally a collector of certain plants at certain times! Right now I need a bunch more peonies, but it's been english roses, bearded/siberian iris, daylilies and hostas before. Your lily pictures are beautiful.
Well Lona you can't kill all the deer honey. I know what you're talking about though because I have them too. I love that woodland bed. I was checking out those babies last year in the plant book. They are beautiful and there are so many to pick from. Love em.
I just love these! I always thought that lilies looked too unnatural, too bright, too ugly for my garden but I'm starting to wonder now. Your flowers are amazing. Will try a few in the garden this year (assuming they are available here in the Netherlands).
Beautiful...so glad you managed to foil those deer! That Golden Stargazer is spectacular...I've never seen one before!
The things us gardeners will do to get our blooms and they are lovely.
Those are some lovely lily photos - hope your battle with the deer is successful. I especially love that pic of Elodie - delicate perfection!
I just love the fragrance of Stargazer lilies. Hopefully you can keep the deer fooled so you may enjoy the fruits of your labours.
It so hard to pick a favourite. But the Eliode made my heart skip a beat like having a crush. Its wonderful that the deer chomping spree has solved.
Hi Lona,
Lovely photos, and I'm glad to see the plants have manged to bloom after their initial chomping.
I hope this summer is just as wonderful, if not more so.
I can relate to you loving plants at certain points... And I've moved away from Lilies. I used to have quite a few around. Sometimes it just takes that one experience to rediscover something or discover a new favourite plant.
You have quite the collection of lilies! I love those soft pink ones. I am sure the bed will be lovely this spring with all the bulbs you planted.
What beautiful lilies! I'm glad you were able to thwart the deer and enjoy those lovely blooms.
Cool, I like lily's too. They smell good. I like tiger lily's.
Sweetpea
What a gorgeous collection of lilies! I especially like Eliode, lovely! I don't have anything to blog about these days, with all the snow and my garden asleep. LOL Tried to go to the FPC, but then the snow started and I didn't go. Boohoo! Is it spring yet?
beauties all of them. I put out lot's of iris and lilies this past spring ,sure hops they bloom this spring.
All the trouble you put up to repel deer is so worth the effort... beautiful lilies Lona! Love the Eliode - looks like a flower fit for a princess - sweet and charming ;-)
Lona, I guess if someone asked me, I would have to say Daylilies and Lilies are my favorite plants. They give such beauty and ask for so little in return.
Eileen
Oh what beauties! It was love at first sight between me and the photo of Eliode. What a gorgeous lily. Like you, my flower loves come and go, but there is one constant in my gardening scheme and that's pink. I love, love pink flowers of all kinds.
Hope your staying warm and cozy!
Those are all beautiful, Lona! They look great along the woodland. What are the lilies in the first photo? I am a magnet to red. :)
Such a glorious collection, thank you for putting it together! I do get on little kicks (ok obsessions) with certain plants, but I am rather frugal so I try a few and see how they grow in my garden before going all out. :)
Ha, declaring your own hunting season, LOL, but I understand how upset you must have been.
Your efforts were greatly rewarded. You must have been so happy to see your beauties grow.
I have a woodland border that I would like to do something similar. You inspired me a bit.
Hope you're all shoveled out. :)
Annelie
Beautiful lillies. I have Prairie Blue Eye, Stargazer, a lemon-scented yellow one of unknown name, and a few others I can't recall right now. All mine are in a fenced area deer cannot access otherwise I'd have to fight the 4-legged munchers off constantly.
I had given up on lilies completely because of the deer. Only spraying would keep them away, and that is disgusting and expensive. This year we put up a deer netting fence, and I am looking forward to this summer.
I love all of your lily pictures!! They are all so pretty, I hope the deer leave them alone. Here the squirrels and slugs wreck the lilies. Last year I added several daylilies and this year lots more Oriental lilies are going in. I can't wait to see them in person.
Fantastic stuff. I know what you mean about different flowers. My latest kick is the explosion of coreopsis and heucheras. I think the next obsession is back in the shade with little sand miniature hostas because I just read a book about them.
Another rave for Eliode--that's a bulb I'll be searching out for sure!
Oh my..they're lovelyyy. Great post.
I wish I can plant them in my garden, too bad I live in the tropics, too hot for them. :(
Your lilies are beautiful. So nice to be reminded of color in the gardens. I have so many favorites... mostly anything blue.
Oh Lona...you took the words right from me! One night I was looking in my seed mags and commented that all of a sudden I have a new favorite plant! lol
your gardens are gorgeous and I hope you get loads of blooms this year!
I don't have many lilies anymore. Things get moved. New construction. But they're so delicate and beautiful!
Brenda
These lillies are so pretty. I had never seen the Eliode variety before - what a beauty! Your woodland garden will be lovely.
Such a beautiful collection! I only just became a fan of Hemerocallis last year and Oh! don't I wish I had some room for hundreds more! Not to be!
Your selection of lilies are beautiful. I have many of the same varieties but battle squirrels instead. I planted a new group, but will have to wait and see what was left for me.
I can absolutely identify with you on loving a certain flower and then collecting it....lilies are one I love...and your deer issues of course I can feel the pain as well...great post and beautiful pics...
I'm glad your hard work paid off with the deer. Your lilies are lovely! I need to get my veggie gardens rabbit proofed.
I have fallen in love with different kinds of flowers over the years, and have done some collecting. My collecting has to be limited, as our yard is smallish. My current obsession is hellebores, but I think I'm out of spots for them. I have lots of daylilies and irises, too.
What beautiful pictures....
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