Lilies, anyone?

[Lori S.]

Some martagons recently or currently in bloom here:
A couple of really lovely ones given to me by my friend from work, Adam, who is very active in growing and hybridizing lilies and is becoming well known in lily circles...  These flower stalks are 6'  5 1/2' tall this year.
     

[RickR]

A very nice one, Lori.  A little bit similar to a very old  martagon section cultivar, Mrs. R.O. Backhouse.  A cross of Lilium martagon and the yellow Lilium hansonii, it is still one of my all time favorite lilies.  

          21 Jun 2011
        

I have recently come out of the dark ages from a dial up connection to DSL, my only other option (unless I am willing to pay $700+/year).  Still, a huge difference as with dial up even the thumbnails didn't always fully load.  So I have been going through my many lily pics in preparation for such a thread as this, and since Lori has started the topic of same, there's no better time than the present to begin.

In my garden, this is the first year ever that a martagon lily has beat out my Lilium szovitsianum for the coveted "first bloom of the year award" - by two days.  First to bloom were two martagons grown from seed, nicely spotted pink ones, although nothing spectacular about them. Then came Lilium szovitsianum. First bloomed in 2008 its seventh year from seed, it is usually a reliable performer, despite the fact that it grows in full sun through the hot humid summers here. But this season's 100 F temps in June produced some super compacted flower spikes that were not very comely, although flowers were normal.  From year 2010:

It doesn't show too well in the photos, but the foliage is decidedly unlily-like in the traditional sense.  So much so that when a learned friend came over and saw the one foot sprouts, he exclaimed "What is that?"

          16 May 2011                                   May 2010
        

The maroon accents at the base and end of each petal is quite fetching.

          Jun 2009                                      30 May 2010
        

[Lori S.]

I have recently come out of the dark ages from a dial up connection to DSL, my only other option (unless I am willing to pay $700+/year).  Still, a huge difference as with dial up even the thumbnails didn't always fully load.  So I have been going through my many lily pics in preparation for such a thread as this, and since Lori has started the topic of same, there's no better time than the present to begin.

Excellent news, Rick!  We await your postings with bated breath.   

[RickR]

More martagon seedlings.  This is one that beat out szovitsianum for first bloom of the season:

                         1 Jun 2011
              

Other nice variations.  Notice the bit of "nectary" marking on the second one.

               30 Jun 2011                                9 Jun 2011
        

Most lilies are self infertile, including martagons.  So to obtain Lilium martagon var. album seed (for instance), one must cross too genetically different plants of that same variety.  Most gardeners don't seem to realize this.  Consequently much of the seed in seed exchanges for var. album is really martagon album x martagon not album, because most gardeners don't have two different Lilium martagon var. album, and/or don't bother to hand pollinate.  I have tried three different batches of seed of supposedly Lilium martagon var. album, and none have yielded the true variety.  I do come up with some nice crosses, though:

                         25 Jun 2011
              

              25 Jun 2011                               25 Jun 2011
        

               20 Jun 2011                              20 Jun 2011
        

I do have one nice white seedling, but I know that its was produced from crossing a white martagon with a gold.

                         27 Jun 2011
              

[Booker]

Hi Rick,
Thought you might be interested to see these two images captured in the Dolomites in July this year of the only example of a white Lilium martagon we have ever seen on our numerous visits?

[RickR]

Yes, thank you Cliff.  And a very tight inflorescense.  Is that predominant among all the martagons in the Dolomites?

[Lori S.]

A few more...
A form of Lilium martagon with very furry buds and small (~3cm across), highly recurved flowers:
   

Lilium martagon 'Album'... not, unfortunately, in such a beautiful setting as Cliff's!  


Lilium xdalhansonii:
 

L. martagon 'Pink Attraction':
   

[Lori S.]

Unknown martagon that was ravaged by lily beetles this spring, yet somehow managed to bloom a little... any thoughts on which it is?


L. martagon 'Early Bird':
   

L. martagon 'Amelita':

[Tony Willis]

Sorry I did not realise there was a lily thread when I posted my photographs in the bulb section. Lori and Rick some truly outstanding forms of martagon.

Here is my Lilium martagon ssp cattaniae from Greece. The lily foliage on the left is L. chalcedonicum before it moved into bud

[Lori S.]

No matter, Tony.  (I forgot that there were some lily photos in the other thread... I could/should have posted there but no worries either way.  )

Here is my Lilium martagon ssp cattaniae from Greece.

That is absolutely fabulous!! What a colour!  Ssp. cattaniae has very furry buds, doesn't it?

[Tony Willis]

Lori

yes ssp cattaniae does have very furry buds which are quite fascinating as they develop. I collected the plants as single scales on Mt Falackro in NE Greece and have since done the same thing on Mt Kymachalan further west but these have yet to flower.

[Lori S.]

How long does it take from scaling a bulb to blooming size?

[McDonough]

No time to respond, except to say that I'M REALLY ENJOYING THESE MARVELOUS LILIES, they're all so gorgeous.  I have such a problem with lily beetle, that I stopped considering the genus, but a friend tells me that the summer blooming species like L. martagon are less bothered by the pests, is that true?

[Lori S.]

So far, in my limited experience with lily beetles (which is only over 3 years now... and already I hate them with a passion!), it seems they are somewhat less attracted to martagons than to asiatic hybrids.  However, I'm sure someone with experience local to your zone/area will be able to give some more relevant commentary.

[RickR]

Lori, that small furry bud martagon has some really narrow foliage for a martagon.  Love the diversity.  All of my martagons have wider leaves to some degree.   This one has the "best" foliage:

                         27 Jun 2011
               

Tony, your subspecies cattaniae are very special (and beautiful!).  What time of year did you harvest scales?

Mark, martagons may be summer blooming, but they are in general among the earliest of the genus.  Don't let the timing of this thread mess you up: while Lori's martagons might be concurrent, mine are not (and are long gone).  I've edited dates in for my previous photos. 

The lily beetle has not arrived in Minnesota ... yet.