This turned out to be a great discussion about Saltarello and other things

I wouldn't be at all surprised if 'Red Life' has been renamed and it would be interesting to know more about it. It certainly doesn't look or behave like something that was bred for the cut flower industry. Regardless where it originates from it will always be welcome in my garden, especially as there are too few lilies in commerce here in Europe with similar qualities.

Dave, I actually planted my Saltarello bulbs in full sun after reading what B&D lilies wrote about them. But after trying myself I think Lorn has the right idea and I will see if I can move my bulbs to a more shaded position in the future. Saltarello can develop a very rich color if brought in and put in a vase, so that is another option.

Auto correct is always "off" with me. I like the spell checkers that simply highlight the questionable words, and let you manually change them if you want. Besides keeping your brain working, it helps keep you from becoming a spelling dummy, too.

Is golden splendor typically such a prolific multiplier?

No, it is not typical but it doesn't surprise me. This group has become so broad after 60 years of evolution that anything seems possible given the right growing conditions.

Wrong way Fusion. Instead of growing deeper with age and size, this one chose to lift to the surface. I've occasionally seen this before when conditions are too wet for a particular lily type but this past summer was very dry here. This is of a single bulb planted on April 19, 2015 that did well, double nosed and divided and was among the first to emerge on April 6, 2016. All of my Fusions bloomed normally this year but I was somewhat surprised on how early they phase into dormancy. I'll take the opportunity to plant the two in question here in another location.

As discovered yesterday.


After digging today





On April 6th, 2016, first 2 noses, front center and soil temp.

Nice sized bulbs Lorn. Are you going to split them or scale them?

I'll plant them just as they are. These multiply rapidly.

I have had my Western Americans and their hybrids do that many times. Never figured out why.

Did they stay put once you replanted them?

Sadly, I didn't replant them and all were lost.

You know that you are a bit of a lily nut when you grab a flashlight and goes out into the dark looking for a label called 'Fusion' and digs down to inspect what depth the bulb is at .

My single bulb, still has plenty of soil on top, but it's only planted this spring so perhaps haven't had time to surface yet. What surprised me a bit was that I didn't notice even a trace after stem roots. Yet it grew perfectly normal from what I could see. 30+ inches tall and two blooms, so didn't appear stunted in any way. So perhaps it's not supposed to have any stem roots?

pardalinum said:I have had my Western Americans and their hybrids do that many times. Never figured out why.

Well it can't be frost heaving where you are!

Many times, I've gone out at night to check on a plant name or its progress. The impetus is usually a conversation here, current at the time.

Rick, you are right about the frost heaving here, though in rare years it is possible. But this was only observed with my Western Americans, not other lilies. It doesn't seem to be weather related.

As for running in and out of the house and reading the forums here, there is indeed a relationship between the two activities. I do it all the time, and not just with the lilies!

William said: .

My single bulb, still has plenty of soil on top, but it's only planted this spring so perhaps haven't had time to surface yet. What surprised me a bit was that I didn't notice even a trace after stem roots. Yet it grew perfectly normal from what I could see. 30+ inches tall and two blooms, so didn't appear stunted in any way. So perhaps it's not supposed to have any stem roots?

I got to thinking, I better check another one to look for stem roots and just to find out if more had lifted close to the surface. Indeed, this second cluster had risen to about an inch or 2.5 cm from the surface. There was evidence of a few stem roots on one stem only. This has all the appearance of a bulb planted too shallow, yet this bulb was about the size of a quarter and planted about 4 to 5 inches deep in April of 2015. This cluster is now about 4 inches or more in diameter and produced 13 flowers on two stems this past summer. Apparently, this years scanty few stem roots did not play the major role in plant size, bud count nor in cluster development.

When crap happens---why does it always happen to highest priority crossing of the year?

Well, not really but an important one, none the less. [Buttercurls X Coffee and Castenets] X Awesome. It might be just a coincidence, but a pod on this hybrid seedling got hit by the same type of insect last year also.

I know the feeling...

Organza bags to the rescue? (next year)


I used them this year to keep the birds off of their favorite ones.

Where can I get these? Nice and neat looking.

My wife had some. Geez. CVS, Walgreens, gifts and cards area.