I don't think there is any way to describe the scent in the air as I stepped out of my rig upon my arrival at Mak's place. Can you say lilies as far as the eye can see? And all luscious oriental lilies of all forms, row after row. I noted that some visitors could not help but sniff as many as they could in the time allotted. These folks found themselves driving back to the Portland area with yellow faces. Hope no one got stopped for any reason!
The first photo here is a field view, just awesome .
I decided to start with the greenhouse. I was joined by the lady who chairs the lily bulb sales sponsored by the Lily Study Group (formerly the Pacific Northwest Lily Society, PNWLS). Note the very tall lily in the background. I saw some ridiculously tall lilies in the green house.
Here are some closeups of some of the hundreds of lilies in the greenhouse.
All of the lilies grown in the greenhouse are in shallow bulb crate type of containers.
A few more photos from inside the greenhouse. We had it to ourselves the whole time we were in there. I didn't even go down each row, preferring to not get myself pollinated!
Yellow orientals is one of the things Mak is breeding for:
The fragrance was divine and when confined in the greenhouse it really smacks you up along side of the head when you open the door. But after being in there for a while it seems to be less strong, just a matter of getting used to it. Out is the field it is easier to discern the differences from one lily to another. There was one I swear smelled like melon!
Actually I first met the Maks years back when I first joined PNWLS and attended meetings in Portland. But I am just another face in the crowd so doubt they remember me from one time to the next. Mr. and Mrs. were both in attendance this time; we're talking seniors here, not juniors, lol. But I have met them also, at the 30th anniversary gathering in 2006. Heck, they cooked my lunch for me. lol, lol!
It sure is beautiful inside that greenhouse. There are only two greenhouses; one for seedlings and one for the blooming lilies. We were not allowed in the seedling greenhouse.
I really love this one:
I think that concludes my visit to the greenhouse. Up next: acres of field lilies!
This appears to be L. formosanum. I saw a few here and there. They are used as a "canary in the coal mine" to test for the presence of virus. They show symptoms of virus quite soon after infection, hence warning the grower of the problem.
The oriental colors are so amazing. I do think there needs to be more yellow in orientals and that lovely raspberry pink. Yellow with pink spots is a must!
This reminds me I need to get with the program and get my photos from the field cropped and posted. At least I have gone through and noted the ones I want to post, about 60 total .
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