Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Friday, June 26, 2009

Flowers For Friday

I'm so glad you stopped by for Blooming Friday. Please visit Katarina at Roses and Stuff to join her and other bloggers for Friday's blooms! I hope you enjoy your time here and the tour around the garden. ~Have a delightful weekend my friends, Gail

There is no way you can forget the sweet fragrance of a Stargazer Lily.

Since they were introduced in 1978 they've been charming us with their water colored "red fade to pink" petals and freckled face beauty...and that delicious perfume! They are the go to flower when sweet Mr I wants to surprise me or help me celebrate. It won't be a surprise that they are my lily of choice in the wildflower garden.

You can't miss them, no matter where you stand in the garden, you can catch their fragrance on the breeze. Can you imagine their scent right this minute...close your eyes and see if you can. It's wonderful.


I've planted them in the Screened Porch wildflower garden in semi-shade. Just above the lilies are dozens of Queen Anne's Lace. I like the combination of exotics, natives and invasives! If you enlarge this photo (above) you can see what looks like a Stargazer Lily with flattened face and recurved petals. That's one of the orienpets I ordered and added to the garden last fall.... I do have a few Asiatic lilies in the garden. They are sweet, too. But I love fragrance and the orienpets provide that. My hope was that they would also give architectural presence to the wildflower garden.

Height, looks and that delicious fragrance! A winning trio of qualities! But here's the rub!

If you look closely at these two photos...It is very clear that neither of the
Orange Crush orienpets are standing up tall and proud. No, they are leaning over, practically lying on the ground! But, don't you think they look good in the setting sun! (NTS~~stake them next year)
But really, Stargazers are more than a good smelling lily with a pretty face! They're sweet entertainment! We get to enjoy that sweet perfumed flower, free of mosquitoes while sitting in the comfort of the screened porch.

I wish you were here to sit with me on the porch. The sun has set and it's cooling down. The evening sounds are starting up. The fireflies are out and you can hear the crickets singing.... If we can manage to stay up late, we might see the luna moths and sphinx moths as they make their nightly rounds to the lilies and the other night blooming flowers.

It's delicious!

gail


51 comments:

  1. Hi Gail! Sounds like you're having a great time in the garden! Our lightning bugs/fireflies have finally come out here too, the highlight of summer for me. But I wish I could sit with you and look for that luna moth. It's been so long since I've seen one!

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  2. I have never seen fireflies or luna moths, Gail. I dream of sitting with you to see these and your lovely garden. I love your lilies, I still grow lilies but have to check them and spray them regularly due to lily beetles which east them. I do hate bugs that don't realise they should leave some for next year!

    Best wishes Sylvia (England)

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  3. Hi Gail!
    Lovely lilies you are showing!
    Some of my lilies are beginning to flower too. Lilies&roses - oh i love that combination!
    Happy weekend!
    Love,
    AnnA

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  4. You have a lot of lovely flowers! So beautiful!

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  5. I do wish you all could come sit with me on the porch...It was the best gift we've ever given ourselves. If you live in a mosquitoet area it's a must! The mosquitoes are fierce in a shady garden and then there are chiggers and ticks! Gail

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  6. Ahhhh yes, I can smell the Stargazer. It would be delightful to sit on the screened in porch with you to watch and listen for the night visitors. Have a great weekend.

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  7. Oh Gail, Those Stargazers are great!! Had some that bloomed and bloomed for years...then the voles found them. Last year there were none. I was really bummed. Great bloom!!

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  8. You've found the perfect location for the bright stargazer--it looks wonderful there in the sea of green. Have a great weekend! I'm going on a garden tour and then to find Luther Burbank's shovel!

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  9. Now I have to ask you what is the secret to growing Stargazers? I had some one year-one year only. They never returned for me. They are really pretty.

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  10. Beautiful lilies Gail! The first picture with the combination of the lily and coneflowers looks really good. They all look good really but that one especially!

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  11. Morning, Gail. Your lilies are gorgeous! I can smell those beautiful stargazers. At the nursery where my mom worked they had a huge floral department, those poor florists, I bugged them so much, I still remember the shipments of flowers and plucking the pollen off of the stargazers when the arrived. That smell is unforgettable!

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  12. Gail I agree that the stargazer is a great source of entertainment ... but you still get luna moths? Wow! In New England we only have them in May. I do see the hummingbirds go to the flowers however... but not at night obviously. Sitting on your porch enjoying the fragrance and fireflies sounds lovely! I was in the gardens last night ... the fireflies are amazing.

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  13. Gail,
    I lilies are leaning over too! It's the weight of those gorgeous blooms. Your's are beautiful and I like the combo with with coneflowers!--Randy

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  14. I can just barely catch the fragrance of your beautiful lilies!

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  15. Tina, It's neglect... Also with all the rocks in this soil no critter can get to the bulbs to snack on them. The bulbs I planted in the Susan's Bed grew, but the flower buds were eaten by something...It was an experiment to see if they could take hot afternoon sun; they can but you do have to give them extra water.

    Just in case i will plant more this fall.

    Gail

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  16. Your lilies are beautiful. My Stargazers haven't started yet but will any day now.

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  17. I really do love the white lily.

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  18. Sitting on the screened porch with you sounds wonderful, Gail! Here it's a show of fireflies at night...and the rabbits that are suddenly making an appearance. I do love your Stargazer lily as well as all the orienpets. I purchased some bulbs last spring and then forgot to plant them until recently. I have my fingers crossed they may still appear.

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  19. Hi Gail, sitting on your porch in the twilight sounds wonderful. It's been so miserably hot and humid here that just going outside is torture.

    Love the stargazers too, my favorites in fact. I'm looking at some other orientals in the Gilbert Wild catalog. Need to move some hosta before I add any more plants to that garden.
    Marnie

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  20. Such beautiful lillies. Why doesn´t I have that many, somewhat envious I am.

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  21. Marnie, Gilbert Wild! I bought all my first daylilies from them and totally think they rock! Isn't that the rub in adding new plants...we have to move others, then others....gail

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  22. Mmmmm, those Stargazers are divine. I have one measly bulb and it hasn't opened yet. Now you have me itching to see it. They are my favorite of the lilies too. I never had anything but the lone Stargazer until this year but none of the new Asiatics have won me over like StarGazer. I'm wondering now why I didn't just plant a ton of StarGazers and forget the rest?!!!! Wish I could sit on your porch with you for a bit....

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  23. i did not know the stargazers came out in '78. meems had them in her wedding that year and i remember thinking how gorgeous they were. their smell is intoxicating and the sheer beauty of them is in itself something to behold. lovely that you have them.

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  24. Gail, your porch sounds delightful, as are your Stargazer Lilies. I don't have any Oriental Lilies but must get some. Stargazer does have the most wonderful sweet fragrance.

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  25. Love, love, Lilies! Beautiful photos!

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  26. Yes, I can imagine the scent of the Lilies. My mom has 'Stargazer,' so I know it well. I'm not planting any Asiatics, as I've decided that any Lily I plant has to be fragrant. Your Orienpets are lovely. I'm going to have to post photos of all the supports I've employed this year in an attempt to keep my Trumpet Lilies upright.

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  27. Gail, Stargazers are Great, but have you seen StarFighter? It may be Starfighter or Star Fighter. Anyway, You would LOVE this one, too! :-) Have a great weekend!!

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  28. I really need to add some of these beauties if for their fragrance alone. Your garden is gorgeous Gail. :)

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  29. I checked out Starfighter, Shady and there are the magic words...fragrant and needs no staking! I'll look into adding Stargazer's sibling to the garden...Thanks! Have a fun trip! gail

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  30. I love the lilies! I am not having luck with my stargazer. It must get to much shade? I better move it next year(-: Yours are so pretty! I bet they smell wonderful!

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  31. Cindy, I am completely surprised that they grow here! The easiest plants in the world....for instance, hosta hate this garden and lilies seem to thrive. Mine are in shade but they do get more sunshine when the leaves are gone all winter...maybe that helps. Keep trying they are so worth the replanting. gail

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  32. Lovely lilies! I'm sure the fragrance is wonderful in the evenings.

    I'm waiting for my one 'Starfighter' (looks just like Stargazer, but it was labeled fighter) to bloom. I squeezed mine in between some azaleas and it's a great way to hold it upright! LOL

    I like the coneflowers with your lilies. That's a nice combination.

    Cameron

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  33. I can smell the Stargazers from here. That particular lily has a special place in this house, as it was the main flower for our wedding.

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  34. Do you know that I've never grown Stargazer lilies? I don't really know what they smell like! But I have a Dizzy lily about to bloom, and it's supposed to be fragrant, so I hope it smells just as good.

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  35. Dear Gail, I am there with you in spirit if not in person. Sitting on your porch is such a joyous occasion, and smelling the lilies and watching for Ms. Luna paints a happy dream.
    Frances

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  36. I can smell the lilies from here Gail, and just came in from a Friday evening break on our non-mosquito-free (citronella candles are helping) patio with a nice glass of Spanish red.

    I hope the stargazers I planted this Spring continue to avoid the squirels and bunnies. Until they (hopefully) bloom, it's a pleasure enjoying yours.

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  37. What a lovely post! Aren't the evening sounds wonderful now?
    Lisa

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  38. I wish I were sitting with you on your porch too! It was 106 at last report today! Hot, hot, hot! Your lilies were a feast for the senses. I can't help but think of the Bible verse whenever I see Lilies..."And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" So true, and yours are magnificent!

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  39. These lilies are adorable! I would love to sit next to you on the porch, enjoying your garden...
    /Helen

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  40. Gail, you paint such a lovely picture sitting on the porch - watching the lunas and fireflies. My husband is lily-perfume adverse - so I tuck them in here and there and manage to look completely confused when he says, there's a really strong perfume, do you know what that is? Fortunately when they're out in a few weeks, there's lots in bloom, so I have no problem affixing the scent to some poor innocent plant. Sort of like what my grandfather used to do when he....oh never mind, it's not polite. B.

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  41. Two of my favorites things, fireflies and singing crickets. Must be heavenly sitting on your porch enjoying the "pretty" all around you. But I know you work hard to make it all come together.

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  42. What a lovely sight you must have--and to inhale the scent of those lilies must be heavenly!

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  43. Gail, I adore your lilies! And I do wish they would grow right here, in my garden, as well! And yes, I can almost smell rthem across the Atlantic...
    Thanks for taking part in Blooming Friday!
    Katarina

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  44. What a wonderful picture you paint of your garden, Gail. Having just 'googled' luna moths it must be quite something to have them flying around your garden!

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  45. Lowely lilies and beautiful photos!

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  46. The scent must be (quite literally) breathtaking in your garden at the moment Gail :)

    Have a great weekend!

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  47. Oh my gosh Gail, I really love the fragrance of Stargazers. I used to buy them every weekend and put them in my bedroom. They don't like to grow down here but I was looking at the Old House Garden catalog just this morning, trying to find some southern fragrant lilies. I found a few and if I can get my perennial bed put in this summer, I may just have some lilies next year. Fingers crossed!

    Hope your weekend's grand.

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  48. I remember going on a garden tour a decade or so ago, and coming home my first thought was: MUST PLANT MORE LILIES!!!!! I did, and I've never regretted it -- except for those times I forgot where they were planted and wiped them out by over-zealous spring digging.

    Most of mine are Asiatics, but the few Orientals in the small back garden fill it like a bowl of perfume. So I'll soon be with you in sniffy spirit up here.

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  49. My friends, For those of you who haven't planted the Orientals...I am really happy with Stargazer. It does well in the semi-shade and hardly needs staking! I don't do anything special, but mulch the spot I plant them!

    I am thrilled to know that SG has been in so many weddings and that others love it's fantastic perfume. I, too, love to bring them into the house in the winter...it's such a treat to find them at a florist.

    Have a wonderful rest of the weekend...and remember, it's time to order fall bulbs. It's important to plant lilies as soon as you can after they arrive ...they can't hang around like daffs and tulips!

    hugs to all, Gail

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  50. Gail, I like 'Stargazer' very much. I used to grow it, but our heat finally made it fade away. The other night HH and I returned home and we saw fireflies dancing all over the garden. It filled us both with delight.~~Dee

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  51. Hi Gail! I came here to catch up on your posts, but then reminded myself I was going to go to bed by 10 no matter what else I was doing. It's now 10:30, and my eyes are heavy, so I better come back tomorrow to leave the comments.

    My tendonitis in my foot is acting up, too. I hope your tendonitis is getting better.

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson