Lilies: reason for planting deeply, 1 by DonnaMack

DonnaMack wrote:
Kooger, yes, I remember that now. I read years ago that bulbs have "contractile" roots that allow them to scoot around where they want to be. Great article.

Voss, I looked up your lilies on their site. Arbataz seems to be gone, but the others are gorgeous!

Mary, you are so funny. Hallson is a company best known for, I think, hostas. They sell their perennials bareroot, and I have gotten great ones from them (geranium striatum, alchemilla mollis), but you really have to know what you are doing to successfully plant a bare root perennial so that they don't dry out.

But their best kept secret is B&D quality lily bulbs. Out of loyalty to B&D, and because they are a small provider, I go to them first, and then I go to Hallson. They sell lilies for about $2.50 to $3.00 each, but they knock down the price by 50 cents if you buy three. And they always give me FOUR! They have a limited number, but if they have what you want they are dirt cheap and each bulb produces three flowers the first season.

Below are some first season Hallsons. Acapulco. Crystal Blanca. Dimension. Three bulbs, three flowers each the first year. Each of these clusters cost me $6.00.

They are sold out for the season but you can have them email you when things are available. I think that they are great choice for someone who is not sure they will survive. Hey, I've paid $20 for a single lily I never saw again. If I had paid $2.50 for that same lily it would hurt a lot less.

Here is their lily page:
http://www.perennialnursery.com/lily-bulbs/

Oh, and they are a Watchdog 30:

http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/155/