Thanks Lorn. I know virtually nothing about Lilies, so your advice is very much appreciated. I've been looking for information about mulching lilies so thank you for that. After weeding I'll mulch them in. As a few groups of lilies, all have been scalped, are inter-planted with Japanese Iris, I give this area at least 1" of water a week. If that's too much for lilies I can avoid them. This is an expanded bed this year.

My all time favorite - Awesome w/ visitor

OH Yea!-Awesome alright!!

jmorth: I was waiting to see your Awesome. I planted some Awesome X Emerald Angel seed I got from Buggy this Spring. I got pretty good germination out of it. Have you tried Awesome pollen on any of your others? Awesome is always AWESOME!!

Loreto and Montenegro hopr this isnt a repeat

Tiny Athlete in a planter with heuchera and coleus trailing strawberry

Tiny Ghost potted with coleus elfers and flapjack

Evan: An inch a week is too much when you mulch heavy, especially as time goes on into the fall--give you soil a hand check--keep moist but not wet-wet. if you intermingle plants closely, spray periodically with a copper base fungicide like Bonide as an example; lilies like pretty good air circulation.

Just took some pictures of my yellow , thought I would share.

WOW The deer have gotten to some of mine in spite of Liquid Fence.

I wouldn't think Japanese iris that likes lots of moisture and lilies (that need better drainage and less water) are good companions.

Polly, what do you think?

I find Plantskydd works much better than Liquid Fence and doesn't need to be applied so often. Smells just as bad, though.

We finally got rain, glorious rain!! Nearly 3" in 12 hours but I won't complain a bit when even the daylilies look like this and abort whole scapes.

I've worked harder to keep the lilies hydrated. Here are Red Velvet and a noid trumpet

Enjoying the lilies everyone.

It is that time of year when the critters in the yard have to be up to something!! I have had a seedling I have waited for 10 days to bloom. It was an asiatic that was a pretty fast one to bloom and I was really excited about it. Yesterday afternoon, I was out running some errands, came back to a debudded lily! Left on the ground, somewhat chewed up, but of COURSE NOT EATEN!!! Okay criiters, if you are going destroy my work, please eat it!! I don't want to come back to "I thought it would taste good, but I was wrong, so here you go". Anyway, the bud on this asiatic was white and had turned a nice glowing lemon yellow. It had to be close to opening. I think it was a woodchuck, but since I didn't see it for certain, I can only guess based on other damage. Plantskydd usually has taken care of the rabbits and the deer, but chuck? I don't think so.

Here are some they decided to leave me so I could photograph them and show you. Wasn't that sweet of him? (actually two lilies are all that were touched, so I should feel grateful. But I actually need to sulk a bit right now. I'll get to grateful later)

'Smokie'

'Summer Valley'

'Claret Sunburst'

'Ariadne'

'Burnished Rose' (a favorite)

'Lilass'

'Mars Encounter'

The lovely 'Madam Rosy'

'Moonyeen'

'Vishenka'

'Embarrassment'

Lovely!

It's amazing all of the stuff you have blooming already, Moby. My trumpets are coming along. Your NOID trumpet is lovely. Gets me all geared up for mine.

Congrats on your rain. It makes such a difference, doesn't it? Wow.

Those are all beautiful.

Rick. I grow my JIs and lilies together, but I'm on sand. I have no problems. With a heavier soil, though, I would think the lilies would get too much water. I water every other day with overhead sprinklers. Probably everything you shouldn't do.

You folks really need to get the scarecrow for your critter problems. I know it's not the cheapest upfront, but the money it will save in chemicals will be well worth it. It works fantastically.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000071NUS/

Tracey: Believe it or not, I saw two male yellow finches (common yellow canary) working over some buds on my trumpets. They had ripped some open--must be looking for seeds, I guess. And they had clipped the stem of the top three and four buds completely off two others--Red Alerts. Those little beaks must be awfully powerfull but--I saw it! Kinda got me worried, but they haven't been back--that was two days ago.

Moby side note: Watched your storm come thru on radar last evening; you're lucky you didn't get hail! Send some of that rain our way--Tracey and I need it!

Yes, we were lucky. That really bad stuff usually skirts by us. (knocking on wood!)

Can you believe I have no lilies open yet. This is the weirdest summer ever.

I had gotten 4" of rain by the time I got off work this morning and it rained a little more after that. My garden looks so happy!

Awesome is one I ordered from buggy shortly before she stopped selling and the poor thing died. I'd sure like to buy a bulb from someone if they ever have any to sell. It is my favorite of all of hers.

Thanks everyone for sharing the lovely photos.

Susan

We sure could use the rain over here. It's quite a sight what gardens desperate for rain look like in the hours after the rain. Nothing that a garden hose can do. That's for sure. Happy you got just what your gardens needed.

The trouble with 'Awesome' here is that there have been no increases. Same one bulb I purchased all those years ago.

Polly, it is a strange summer. I have the sequence all off, marts blooming still, asiatics under way ad a few OTs progressing, but the trumpets right on track....at least I think they are.

Here's hoping for just enough water and blooms to knock your socks off.