I had to dig some lilies up yesterday since I'm redoing the raised bed they were in. I was very pleased to see how huge they had grown over the last 3 years. One was the size of a small cantaloupe and the other about the size of a large grapefruit. Made me fill like buggycrazy. Hate to think of how big they might have been if I'd fertilized them. It's a noid OP.

Pretty, aren't they! Nice roots!

Wow! Like you noted, shades of Buggy Crazy.

Enough to feed a family!

Impressive!
I'm curious:
---- Is it multiple stems from a single bulb, or multiple stems from multiple noses of the bulb?

I really couldn't tell that there were multiple bulbs, but I think the one on the side might have been able to be divided off. There were lots of smaller bulbs that have developed that I gave away.

It is a beauty. I am dreading the bulb moving job.

"MONSTER" I buy in a box of Aurelians every few years from a country grower, that are that size 'abouts'

You all might think I'm 'nuts' for saying this, but I really do think bulbs get bigger and heavier and more robust over winter. This bulb sure is pretty isn't it! You can tell it's heavy! It looks like the bulb is starting to become more oval and will be dividing in another two or three growing seasons. Note the little bump stubs of stem roots just starting to grow.

On the other hand, I usually give the big ones away and keep the smaller ones for myself. Makes somebody really, really happy with joy!

Here's a photo of the lily from last year. I never have Id'ed it. Bought it as Deep Impact. Not!

Looks like it could be Sarabande but maybe not

That's what I was thinking too ~ very similar to Sarabande. Gorgeous either way!

I don't know Susan. There are a lot of lilies that are similar to that. My flowers of Sarabande agree with those in our database. More important than the color depth (which I find can vary year to year, but has never extended to your extreme), is the shape of the overall flower and width of the petals. They don't look like Sarabande to me.

Wow, those are HUGE!!! I hope mine get that big!

Roosterlorn said:You all might think I'm 'nuts' for saying this, but I really do think bulbs get bigger and heavier and more robust over winter.

I'll bet that the real expansion occurs in the very early spring, before (or as) growth of the sprout in the bulb begins. It would be a probable natural phenomenon in the fall for the bulb to expunge some of the water (and reduce its mass) within the bulb that would produce a more concentrated aqueous solution of various substances that ultimately has a lower freezing temperature. (Read: more winter hardy.) Then in preparation for growth in spring, it rehydrates to its fullness. It would also be a probable assumption that a bulb could or would absorb even more water than before in preparation. Spring growth is very fast, and I always marvel at how quickly mass is produced, despite lower temperatures.

Rick--yes, over winter was kind of a figure of speech and technically, to broad. The increase bulk must be in response to the very slow and gradual warming of the soil and in preparation to shoot up the stem. Probably as early as late February or as soon as the bulb senses the soil is warming. I think your post describes it very well. Bulbs must have to do this (rehydrate) naturally in order to support stem growth with foliage a foot high or more before it develops functional stem roots to feed the system. It's interesting how bulbs prepare themselves to over-winter and how they prepare themselves again for Spring and new growth.

On quite a few occasions, I've planted Vernalized bulbs in the Spring and then decided to move them to a different spot three or four weeks later. The size and weight difference from rehydration is amazing!

Noses Galore. Green Trumpet x Bronze Patina. Two plants. The one on the left was a double nose last year; the on the right was a single nose. A late blooming plant.

Looks like you are in for a good trumpet year Lorn! One of my Ortegas came up two noses last year and four this year. Two have already flopped and I have secured them up to the back of a lawn chair. Same thing happened last year and I propped them the same way!

pardalinum said:Looks like you are in for a good trumpet year Lorn! One of my Ortegas came up two noses last year and four this year. Two have already flopped and I have secured them up to the back of a lawn chair. Same thing happened last year and I propped them the same way!

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Edit: Well, that was silly: quoting Pard without a comment. I had written some quip alluding to the lilies being backwards couch potatoes...-- oh well.

Beautiful sight, Lorn