Perfection Stands Before Me: The Lilies.

Today I share the photos of my most prized garden possessions!  The Lilies.
Ever since I can remember, I have always loved these flowers-

They are stately, strong, perfumed, heavy, nostalgic, passionate, and graceful.

My lily garden is going to be in full grandeur this summer- as I have added some new strains to the mix!
I cannot wait to photograph them all season long as they travel from young to old in just 3 months!

Golden Splendor

This yellow beauty reaches the sky at 7ft tall and carries countless blooms that gently bow their heads to the ground as they open.  Like a gentle nod of the head in recognition of a roaring applause.

Holland Beauty

Holland Beauty is one of my most anticipated blooms!  A dark hue of burgundy adds lots of drama to the garden's bright canvas.  She also carries an abundance of blooms that bow their heavy heads to the earth.  A spicy smell.






                                                                  

Salmon Star

Little Salmon Star is an eye-catcher!  In a color we normally do not see from the Lilium class, this pinky- orange almost glows alongside the others.  This is a small plant that holds very big blooms- giving this guy a tuft of color in the garden's foreground!  Charming.

Tiger Lily

The old fashioned Tiger Lily is an heirloom that is very dear to my heart.  My Grandmother's garden was spotted with these antique blooms every summer.  They are among some of the tallest in their class to reach 8 ft after a few seasons!  And their backward facing petals are heavily freckled and super intriguing!

Conca D'Or

This extremely heavy lily is a showstopper!  The soft butter-cream coloring, mixed with the spicy-sweet fragrance stops you in your tracks as you pass by.  It stands as tall as I do and blooms slowly for about one month!  This lily kicks ass!  A True Queen.

Lake Carey

No lily comes in a brighter shade of Barbie pink than this one!  It is so loud and fun in the garden.  It is on a smaller stem so having her shine in the foreground is a must.  The sweet perfume of this lily is intoxicating!

Casablanca

Everybody knows of the Casablanca Lily!  The true white lily.  Fit for a Princess.  A sense of nostalgia drifts over these beauties as they bloom...for this is the flower many florists use for weddings and funerals--and I have personally used them in much of my own work!

African Queen

The African Queen is a Trumpet lily which grows to be 6-7 ft tall!  Standing beside them, you have to lift your eyes into their downward-facing trumpets in order to witness their beauty as they tower over your head.  This is one of the only orange trumpet lilies available in the market today-  so she is a special gem in the garden.

Shocking

The Shocking Lily is just that: Shocking!  Like flames blaring over the sun's molten surface, this lily is Hot!  A real display of drama and intensity.  This lily also has a slight glare to its petals when in full bloom- it almost appears to be artificial!  Also a highly fragrant flower.

Leichtlini Lily

Another favorite heirloom lily of mine is the Leichtlini Lily...a close relative of the orange Tiger Lily.  With the same growth habits and flower formation as the Tiger lily, this strain is as bright yellow as any flower comes!  I love the way these lean and sway with the summer's wind- almost like sailboats on a choppy shore.

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The Lily Garden is a very special addition to my own cottage-inspired garden.  These flowers come and go so quickly but for their reigning-time, they are the focus of the entire back yard.  With over 17 different varieties, this garden will be highly perfumed and very dramatic during the months of summer.

I like it when something stops me dead in my tracks.  Lilies do that.  They stop me in my tracks.  And I ponder on their Beauty for a moment.

And in that moment, Perfection stands before me.