Lots of goodies there, Dave!

Well due to lack of space I only indulged in a very small order from the Lily Garden, most replacing lilies I lost recently Golden Sceptre, Summer Palace and Yellow Whoppers. I use these in breeding. I added a couple of Orange Valleys and a Makepeace.

Now if you asked about what I was doing in the lily beds I have a lot to say on that. I removed two rows of Japanese irises and two rows of JI seedlings. Obviously I want be hybridizing those anymore. It was a tough decision to make to get the space for lily seedlings. I'm getting old and JI clumps have to be dug and divided about every three years.

I hand dug the pathways then used the gas cultivator to further break up the soil. The pathways were wider than needed so I narrowed them up, giving me room to add a few more rows for seedlings. I dug all lilies that needed dividing or I didn't want to keep. I also culled all of the seedlings including some unbloomed ones.

Everything left that I wanted was replanted and I donated the excess and culls to a charity bazaar taking place this weekend.

I unplanted a bunch of stuff also, so I could have more room for lily seedlings. And it was mostly iris, too! All species, though. And I will be culinary testing my first martagon bulbs this year.

It warms my heart to hear "making more room for lily seedlings". I love it.

Replaced a few bulbs who have since gone by the wayside (been eaten or some other unknown demise). Ordered from The Lily Garden, and Canada and added a few more of Bob Griesbach's from offerings at B&D Lilies. I want to make sure I get them while they are still around. A few of each gives me a little protection from permanent loss.

Funny that multiple people are clearing out iris for lilies. You guys earned 10 points for that. Lol

Tracey, I ordered some more Griesbach stuff as well. Namely multiple of the Moon series. I have one order left to come in from S-W gardens.

3 yards of soil/ compost mix being delivered to my house today, then wheel Barrow time after work. I know I say this every year, but I really look forward to next year!

In a week or two I will go over the lily beds with a weed burner to kill off any spores from botrytis as it went crazy this year with all the rain we had, and any other unwanted pests and organisms. Then in a month or so it will be time to cover the beds with some kind of mulch. Probably use leaves from the neighbors. Free and breaks down to add organic nutrients.

Now is a busy time for all of us gardeners. And of course pretty soon seed from the exchange will start to roll in. Let the fun begin!

My pile of collected mulched up leaves from the neighbors is 5x10ft so far. Should have at least double that by the end of the season. It's never enough, 'cause these are all from trees with fast degrading leaves - maple and ash. My own fallen leaves get mulched up back into the yard.

Happy to say I got almost everything planted. I underestimated the amount of new bed space I would need, so had to pick and choose what was most important to plant. The others will be stored in dry peat moss and in the fridge and hope they make it for a spring planting.

I even added some seedlings in the seedling bed and did some fall garden clean up.