All posts by jane

Deadheading Asiatic Lilies

July 24, 2014alley bed, bulbs, education, perennialsjane

Tonight some garden volunteers worked to spiff up the Grand Ideas Garden for the Michigan Garden Plant Tour taking place July 28 – August 8. The whole group of us scoured the garden, removing spent blooms and making sure the plants looked great for the upcoming visitors. Throughout the garden, many varieties of Asiatic Lilies needed deadheading. I was on such a roll with the task, I decided to do the same with the lilies in the Back Alley Bed of the Lot when I returned home.

A Lily is Not a Lily is Not a Lily

Many plants with the word “lily” in their name are not true lilies. Examples of this would be the peace lily (of the genus Spathiphyllum) or day lily (of the genus Hemerocallis). True lilies belong to the genus Lilium, such as Asiatic lilies and Oriental lilies. Both grow from fleshy, scaly bulbs.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension site, Asiatic lilies “are among the easiest to grow. They’re very hardy, need no staking, and are not particularly fussy about soil, as long as it drains well.” Asiatics love full sun, are available in various colors / heights, and bloom from around mid-June through September, depending on the cultivar.

Asiatic Lilies on the Lot

Here is a photo of the lilies in the full sun, Back Alley Bed around Bloom Day (the 15th) of this month. These lilies had been abandoned on the front porch in a pot. Since we moved in and transplanted them to the garden bed, they have happily multiplied.

Asiatic-Lilies

When to Deadhead Asiatic Lilies

Since then the petals have faded, fallen off, and we are soon left with the plant stalk and leaves as seen in this photo.

Spent Asiatic Lily

If left alone, the lily would begin to create seed pods. Deadheading removes this part of the plant and redirects the plant’s energy into the bulb instead, creating larger nutrient stores for the following season. So, off with its head!

How to Deadhead Asiatic Lilies

With most types of Asiatic Lilies, the top part of the plant can be removed just below where the last petal stalks join the stem. One snip and its done.

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The remaining plant stalk and leaves look tidier now and are left to soak up all the sun and get ready for next season.

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As Fall approaches, the leaves and stalks of the Asiatic Lilies will turn brown and die back the same as tulips or daffodils do at the end of spring. After the die back, I usually clip the plant down to the ground so there is less clean up after the snow melts.

Salad Decor

July 22, 2014Uncategorizedjane

Stepped out into the garden to harvest some fresh salad toppings. Can’t believe the snow peas are still producing! Must be our so far mellow summer.

On-the-go Gardening

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – July 2014

July 15, 2014Uncategorizedjane

This month’s Bloom Day, a garden blogger’s day to share his/her blooming plants with the rest of the world, is happening the day after I’ve arrived home from a trip to Portland, OR. I am so inspired by the gardens/gardeners there and have so much fun info to log! But first, here are the current, blooming stars on the Lot.

What’s Blooming

July is the month for lilies, coreopsis, and coneflowers on the Lot. Last season multiple varieties were added to the South facing bed at the front of the house. Here’s an overview shot.

South Pollinator Bed

And a few details shots of the various plants blooming in this bed…

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On the West side of the Lot we had a downspout creating a wet area near the house foundation. This spot also receives some hot, afternoon sun. This year I added some little natives called monkey flower (Mimulus ringens) at the point where the downspout ends. The plants are used to seasonally wet and sunny conditions. So far they are doing well and are in bloom!

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Another native I introduced to a hot, seasonably wet area of the Lot is swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). Hopefully the butterflies will soon find the blooms on this new addition to the Lot. The leaves are also found to be an important food source to the Monarch butterfly.

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In some of the shadier areas of the Lot, the ligularia, astilbe, and mouse ear hosta are all in bloom.

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The East fence bed in the backyard of the Lot is splashed with color from some more coreopsis, balloon flower, tall garden phlox, and pretty planters Ms. A put together containing some annuals for pollinators.

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Here’s a Himalayan Cinquefoil making it’s debut. It has struggled a bit this spring with stalks collapsing and a touch of powdery mildew. However, it’s still offering up some of its red blooms this month.

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