Lilium 2009

[Lesley Cox]

Oh, so it was a shot of the friend, not of the Gunnera.

[Maggi Young]

Is this the dwarf form John?

You mean Neil?  He's 5ft 8".   

johnw

Ah, small but perfectly formed.... the pal, not the gunnera!

[Lesley Cox]

But who can tell, behind that very large fig leaf?

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

This is a Lilium 'Leslie Woodriffe' shoot, showing so much promise.  The actual shoot is massive, over an inch thick when it emerged from the ground. 

Please click on the pic for a larger version.

[vanozzi]

Thanks for your comments on the martagon seedling Robin.

Jamie, I have not yet flowered enough of my own martagon seedlings to say how common that effect is, though I do find it attractive to include it as an aim in future crosses.Looking at the martagon CD, which is my main resource to see what others have produced, I'm more than happy with this young seedling.There are a few on the CD with a similar effect Jamie.

Leslie,from a breeders point of view, one of the promising traits that I like about this cultivar is that it flowered in 4 years, not only that, but it has a second stem that is carrying 7 blooms . I like this colour with good strong spots, but would prefer it to reflex a little less.My martagon breeding programme, in its early stages still, puts a lot of emphasize on vigour and what will survive the Australian summer.You will remember the 46c to 48c of  our last summer!Yes, I have already put its pollen about and will take a few scales also.I doubt if I'll ever be able to achieve 180cm stems.

Paul T, Martagon hansonii is usually the first to flower for me and this year is carrying 13 blooms--last year I think it had 8. Canadense is also in bloom, as is ruebellum.All these are grown in polystyrene boxes or, as with hansonii, plastic tub 30mm x 30mm deep.All my martagon breeding plants, still in their boxes, are stacked in a commercial size fridge for winter.I really need a cool room, or a move back to Tasmania.
Your Leslie Woodriff is looking good--we are a few weeks ahead of you climate wise--I just measured my LW and it is 90cm tall.Do you grow Regal Star?

[Paul T]

Paul,

The LW in the few days since that pic was taken is now about 70cm tall.  No, I don't have 'Regal Star', but have seen it I think.  Has a more of a gold edge and a bit more recurving, or am I thinking of the wrong one?  SO many wonderful Liliums about.  I just love them, but don't grow nearly as many as I would like to.    I really have to work out how to grow martagons successfully as I adore them.

[vanozzi]

Paul--the Regal Star as you describe it, is the one grown in Australia under that name.It is however, not in fact, Regal Star, as described and registered by the breeder, Dick Bazett.The Australian clone needs to be renamed and registered, as it is superb, grows like a weed and does very well at shows.I still grow it as Regal Star as that is what it's known as in Australia.I don't know what the judges will do at Australian shows when this clone is benched as Regal Star.In fairness, Dick Bazett only cleared the matter up through the NALS forum on Jan 25  2009 and also posted a picture of the correct Regal Star.(Dicks) Regal Star is somewhat similar to LW, where as the ''Australian'' Regal Star carries more red, is much brighter and has a yellow edge-the correct Regal Star has a white edge.
So, I was thinking you would probably like to grow the Australian clone, and if so, would you like to do some trading with your galanthus.I know you would also like to get your mits on Joy Hawley
I'll have very good sized flowing bulbs to trade with you, after the flowering season, if you're interested, also a few spare speciosums.
Here is a picture of Joy Hawley--she has won quite a few Championships.

[Paul T]

Paul,

The colour of Joe Hawley is absolutely superb!!!!    Is it really that fascinating russett colour?  Very, very cool.

Now that you mention it, I do recall seeing discussions about our Regal Star in Aus on the Lilium-L.  I remember the discussion about the edge colour being wrong etc.  Of course I am interested in trading!! 

[Ragged Robin]

My word Paul, Joy Hawley is just fabulous, the colour, the shape, presume it is also scented? Wow!!

[Lesley Cox]

A glorious colour, ember-like. Must look out for her in NZ.

[Ed Alverson]

When it comes to Lilium candidum and other Mediterreans they get their water in the winter. They start growing in the fall because this is when the water is there. Of course they need to be well drained but they do need the water.

Lilium candidum grows better for me than other lilies, mainly because it doesn't need water in the summer (I'm not very good at watering).  My plants were grown from seed so hopefully they are not virused.  The oddest thing has happened this year, however - most of my plants flowered at the normal time in late spring/early summer, but one plant has decided to flower in the autumn.  It can't be because of anything that I did - basically I ignore them - but it is nice to have a lily flowering outdoors in October.

Ed

[The Russian]

Paul, you very happy! I congratulate!! Delightful martagon!
You double happy that have Pantrillis! A fine lily. It was open pollination or you know the second parent?

[Boyed]

Paul,

Your trumpet lily 'Joy Hawley' is fantastically atractive!!! I am highly impressed as trumpets and longiflorums are among my most favourite lilies.

[vanozzi]

Paul, you very happy! I congratulate!! Delightful martagon!
You double happy that have Pantrillis! A fine lily. It was open pollination or you know the second parent?

Hi Elena --I can feel your enthusiasm for martagons and I share your love of them.I'm not aware of anyone in Australia that has good named hybrids of martagon, so most of us that have a few, have grown only hybrids and species from seed.My Pantrillis seedling came from seed bought from NALS and the donor said it was open pollinated.I wish I had Pantrillis----along with at least a dozen more that are on the Martagon CD.I have selfed one bloom only of my seedling to see if it's self fertile, the rest have been pollinated with other hybrids and hansonii.Another seedling is just about to open--its Sarcee x OP and looks as though it is a good solid red.I'm hand pollinating and protecting the stigmas with foil before any pollen is released, also collecting and freezing all spare pollen.I managed to get seed of daugava from the last NALS seed list and look forward to that flowering in 4 years time.You are spoiled for choice in Europe with so many martagon breeders.

[vanozzi]

Joy Hawley is indeed a beautiful colour and it doesn't bleach in our stinking hot summers.As far as scent goes Robin, my head was already in a spin with her beauty, so I  was already smitten.I think seed was on offer from the last NALS list with Joy Hawley crossed with an OT.
Zhirair--most of my backyard is taken up with orientals, speciosums, trumpets, aurelians and OT'S.Also of course some species.Amongst the OT'S are some very nice what is called ryirubes, involving henryi and rubellum.Here are a few pictures of some of my seedlings that I'll be using their pollen onto Joy Hawley this coming season.