I live in Wisconsin. Originally from the west coast. My mother is out there now in Portland visiting my Aunt and sent me a picture of her lilies. One pic she sent they tower overt my mother. Not that it's hard to do since my mother is only 4'10" but they had to be 7 foot

I am 1.5-inch taller than your mother. Some of my lilies are taller than me.

Lol. I'm trying to find out where she got them from and how long ago

are they staked? They sure look huge the base must be 3" or more

They don't appear to be staked

The Pacific Northwest has the perfect climate for growing lilies and just about everything else. The same bulb for you, Dave will oftentimes not get as big, the lily survive as long. I wish they still had NALS convention out there, but I believe there are no lily societies out there anymore But then again, there are growers and NALS itself put on this year's Chicago Show. So maybe one day again.

Very impressive clump. Don't like the term, but what might be called "Lilly Trees"?

There is still one regional society in the PNW, the Victoria Lily Society in BC.

So there is hope, Connie. The societies, sadly seem to be on the decline.

Well it looks like their website link is defunct... They did host the convention a few years back.

I thought for some reason NALS rotated US sites with Canadian sites. The next several are scheduled here in the USA.

Probably, that being the ideal. But as I understand it it is getting harder for any society to take it on.

It's about having younger people get interested, involved and moving forward. Doesn't happen much anymore.

Not a lot of people are motivated to help anymore. Lots of factors I suppose.

Younger kids these days are not motivated by much. The era of instant gratification. If it takes time and effort, it's not worth it to them. Plus everything is on a screen for them. I'm 37 with 3 children, ages 16, 15, and 12. The oldest has no interest really, though she will walk the grounds with me. The boy at 15, sometimes it is a miracle to get him off his keester to do his chore. The youngest one on the other hand, loves to dig in the dirt, browse the nurseries, and help pick out new plants. She has really taken a liking to lilies So I guess one out of 3 isn't t bad.

But I am surprised by the seemingly lack of trying to get youth in the gardens. I know the Wisconsin/Illinois lily society seems rather uninvolved at all. Don't think their website is active, and their facebook page hardly says anything or any activity. But maybe through the local societies, lily and non lily, they could partner up with it's members to get more gardening events going in our local communities. Make the time volunteer and free to attend. I don't know. I'd say maybe more advertising, but that in turn costs money. Gotta be something we can all do to get the youth involved somehow before the craft all but dies out and all that is left is once amazing gardens, now covered in weeds. I have always told my kids, if you can grow plants, you will always have food.

Hey Dave, at 37, you're the 'youth' involved with lilies! At 40-something (...I forget which 'something' ) I guess I am too. And I have a 9 yr old that loves lilies, but who knows how long that will last?

I guess I never thought of it that way Della. With having teenage kids and such, I feel older than I am at times. Then again my career choice hasn't helped my body to feel any younger either lol. It would be neat though to take some younger youth and teach them the things about gardening. Even if each of us gave one kid a bulb, let them care for it, maybe it could make a difference in their lives. Maybe they could make an impact in a good way in this world. Maybe it's just the father in me talking as i see my own children in the verge of becoming adults themselves

Well, I guess I'm one of the youngest members of this forum, then... aged 28, married, no children yet. Grew up on a farm, so had a garden growing up and always liked flowers (whereas my wife enjoys growing fruit and vegies). I hope to have children in future and get them involved in gardening, too.

Vegetables are probably the best way to get very young kids interested at first. When we had 4-8 year olds in the neighborhood, if I was out in the garden, it seemed like they would always come over to see and taste. Edible pea pods were their favorite, hands down. Hardly ever got to eat them myself. , and nothing could make me happier. As they get older, interests change and hopefully it will be to a different genre of plants, maybe flowers or carnivorous plants, etc., instead of Candy Crush or whatever the latest fad is. But I have to say one thing about Pokemon Go (did I spell that right?), it does get them OUTSIDE in the fresh air.

I'm an 80's baby too just early 80's.

Well, I'm a 40's kid, also born last century, but unfortunately in the first part, rather than the latter.
Recently been put on an aged care plan and one of the many benefits are 5 free physiotherapist sessions.My back is shot to pieces, but for the first time this week in many years, I've been able to stand virtually straight, without much pain.There will be a special place in Heaven for this Physio guy.
So, it was a cold miserable day yesterday 8C maximum, howling gale with rolling thunderstorms.To me, a perfect day to take my now 8 month old German Shepherd,Remy, for a run(?) along ''my beach''.She has been so destructive this last few weeks, my fault as I haven't been able to take her for her walks, let alone the 400 klm round drive to the German Shepherd training club on Sundays.
So, here are some great pictures from yesterday.Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed the time on the wild beach with Remy.



ooh it's cold !

let's get outa here