Lilies for Summer Splendor

There’s nothing quite like lilies for drama in the summer garden. Towering stems topped with exotic blooms perfume the air and stop visitors in their tracks. This spring, I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous selection of Oriental and Species lily bulbs from Longfield Gardens — and I couldn’t wait to get them into the ground (and a few into containers) and have been enjoying them all season long.

👉 Now is the perfect time to order lily bulbs for planting. Fall planting gives the bulbs plenty of time to settle in before the cold weather arrives, ensuring strong root growth and a spectacular display next summer. You can still order them in the spring if you procrastinate as I did.

Planting Lilies: In the Ground and in Containers

Lilies are one of those “plant it and forget it” bulbs — if you give them the right start, they’ll reward you for years. I tucked some directly into my perennial borders, slipping them in between daylilies, peonies, and ornamental grasses where the foliage will help hide their bare ankles once the blooms fade. Others went into large, deep containers on my patio so I can enjoy them up close and move them where I want the most impact.

When planting in the ground, I always aim for a depth of about three times the height of the bulb, in well-drained soil. For containers, I use a high-quality potting mix and make sure the pots are deep enough to give the roots room to stretch. Lilies resent soggy soil, so drainage is key.

Keeping the Critters Out

If you’ve ever planted bulbs only to have them disappear overnight, you know the frustration. Squirrels and chipmunks love to dig up freshly planted bulbs — especially big, juicy lily bulbs. To outsmart them, I cover my planting area with a layer of hardware cloth (the kind with ½-inch openings). I cut it to size, pin it down flat and firmly over the soil, and then top it with mulch. The bulbs are safe underneath, but the pests can’t get through.

For bunnies, which are a persistent pest in my garden, I rely on a simple but effective trick: a hardware cloth tube. I cut the mesh to size and place it around the bulb as it emerges. The key step is pinning it firmly to the ground with soil staples so the cage doesn’t shift or blow around the garden. This straightforward method saves a lot of angst—without it, I’m often left with nothing but stems and stripped foliage and the lilies will likely disappear or bloom weakly next season. Remember:

• Lily bulbs recharge themselves through their leaves.

• When bunnies strip the foliage early in the season, the bulb can’t photosynthesize enough to store energy.

• That means the bulb may shrink, decline, or even die over winter.

Care Through the Seasons

Once your lilies are in, they need very little attention. Here are a few key tips:

• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, especially in the first growing season. Containers dry out faster, so I keep a closer eye on those.

• Feeding: A light application of bulb fertilizer in spring, just as shoots emerge, gives them a good start.

• Staking: Tall Oriental lilies sometimes need support when they’re heavy with blooms — I like to use green bamboo stakes and these convenient stretchy plant ties. The ties expand with the plant as it grows and won’t cut into the stem like wire or rot like twine or jute. Strong and reusable, these ties are my go-to for tying up any plant. I even tie up large sunflowers with it and it doesn’t break!

• Post-bloom care: Let the stems and leaves die back naturally after flowering. They feed the bulb for next year’s display. Don’t cut them down until they’re fully yellow.

Recommended Lily Varieties to Try

If you’re ready to go beyond the basics, here are some outstanding Oriental lilies from Longfield Gardens that I’m especially excited about:

• ‘Dizzy’ – White petals boldly splashed with raspberry-red and dotted with freckles. Its fragrance is just as dramatic as its looks.

• ‘Lady Alice’ – A rare, downward-facing lily with creamy petals brushed in apricot-orange. It has an exotic, almost wildflower quality.

• ‘Corvara’ – A soft rose-pink lily with a spicy-sweet perfume. Perfect for cutting and bringing indoors.

• ‘Roselily Series’ – These double-flowered Orientals are pollen-free and look like ruffled roses, but with that unmistakable lily fragrance.

• ‘Marlon’ – A vivid magenta-red lily with bold presence. Plant it where you want a strong pop of color in summer borders.

•  Henryi – A hardy and vigorous species lily from China with downward-facing, bright orange flowers and tightly recurved petals. Grows 4 to 5 feet tall with a dozen or more flowers per stem.

Why Lilies Are Worth It

With their towering presence, exotic flowers, and heady fragrance, lilies are an easy way to add elegance to the summer garden. Whether tucked into a border or showcased in containers, they provide months of beauty with very little fuss. Thanks to Longfield Gardens, I’ll be looking forward to another dazzling lily display next year — and hopefully a garden free of bulb-snatching squirrels!

🌸 Lily Saver
Rabbits can quickly strip lilies down to bare stems. To protect emerging shoots, fashion a simple tube of hardware cloth. Cut the mesh to size, place it around the bulb as it sprouts, and secure it with soil staples so it stays firmly in place. This quick fix keeps foliage safe and spares you the heartbreak of chewed stems.