The Brilliant Lily

                                                   'Nature has a brilliance greater
                                                              than anything we
                                                                   can imagine'

Day Lily

As we all know the heat this week has been unbearable and yet there is a small part of it that I enjoy and I do mean small.
In the early morning when you go outside and the heat is just starting to settle in and the stillness of the air is broken only by the occasional bird or the cicadas singing, this is the small part that I enjoy.
It reminds me of summer days gone by and of movies like 'The Man in the Moon' and 'Now and Then', when you just want to spend the day in a watering hole of laying in the shade of a large tree. Of course who am I kidding, today for me it is in the air conditioned comfort of my home. But I do love those early mornings. It is at that time that I go out to deadhead my flowers.
 Anyone who has Lilies knows that you need to remove the dead flowers every day.  Sadly as beautiful as they are, they have a very short life span.
  I know that some people like to leave the dead flowers to fall on their own but quoting something I once read, 'seedpods which should be clipped from the plants are like a sink full of dirty dishes', I agree. It takes only a few minutes a day to go through the garden and remove any dead flowers and the reward will be like looking at a freshly made bed.

Elegant Candy

Mort's Magic

There are a multitude of Lilies to choose from and I have many different types, about thirteen if I counted right. Some are early bloomers and some late but all are beautiful. I love how they stand majestic and tall and seem to withstand the wind and rain much better than some plants. They require very little care other than the daily dead heading and the reward in growing them is worth it.
I usually try to plant the taller ones in the background of my beds so that when they have finished blooming the leaves are hidden by other plants. If they are late bloomers or a shorter lily I plant them near the front. Either way they really make a statement in the garden and multiply quite quickly so that you can divide them and plant them in other areas of the garden or share them with friends.

Chicken Salad in 'Lily bowl'

Lilies may also be used as a vessel for food once the stamens are removed.
I saw this chicken salad in a 'lily bowl' in a magazine years ago and thought it was so pretty. You could also use it for any cream cheese type spread or dip, just make sure that your flowers have not been sprayed with anything and give them a rinse before using.
 Ice cream or fruit salad would also work. Use your imagination and enjoy the fruits of your labor in every way possible.

 If you don't have lilies in your garden give them a try, you will be well rewarded. Just don't forget to deadhead them and then sit back and enjoy their beauty.

  Happy Gardening!