OPINION: EDDIE SEAGLE: Year of the lily

May 8—"May is the month of expectation, the month of wishes, the month of hope." Emily Bront?. "The month of May has come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit." Thomas Malory. "Sweet May hath come to love us. Flowers, trees, their blossoms don." Heinrich Heine. "May is the most beautiful month of the year, a month alive with warm color. The flowers and trees are in full bloom, and even the sun joins this rhapsody be emitting warmer rays." Lillian Berliner. "Among the changing months, May stands confest the sweetest, and in fairest colors dressed." James Thomson.

Lilies, a testament to nature's artistry, boast a long and storied history. Originating in various parts of the Northern Hemisphere, lilies have adorned myths and traditions for thousands of years. In ancient Greek mythology, these flowers were believed to have sprung from the milk of the goddess Hera, symbolizing purity and renewal. Similarly, in Christian iconography, lilies are often associated with the Virgin Mary, representing purity, virtue, and the divine.

One reason they've managed to thrive and adapt for such a lengthy period is closely tied to their captivating reproductive strategy. These flowers have a unique floral structure that facilitates cross-pollination by attracting pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. The intricate shapes, vibrant colors, and alluring scents of lily flowers have evolved to ensure successful reproduction through pollination, contributing to their incredible resilience and diversity.

There are about 100+ species in the genus Lilium. Besides variations in appearance, each of them differs slightly concerning ease of growing, bloom time, sunshine need, and more. Many plants have lily in their name that are not true lilies and members of the genus Lilium. These include day lily, water lily, peace lily, calla lily, canna lily, lily of the valley, and many, many more. All species from the genus Lilium can be classified into nine divisions.

Division 1: Asiatic Hybrids are found almost anywhere, these hybrids are the easiest to grow. Their flower aspect can be up-facing, out-facing, or down-facing, known also as pendant. Asiatic hybrids are the most popular, but unscented. Attractive and long-lasting, usually the earliest to bloom.

Division 2: Martagon Hybrids are known for their height and the abundance (up to 40-50 per stem) of small, strongly recurved petals on down-facing or nodding flowers. They are early blooming and a shade-tolerant woodland division, shying away from intense heat, humidity, and direct sunlight.

Division 3: Candidum Hybrids consists mostly of European varieties that are not commonly found for sale. They are one of the oldest, perhaps the first species of lilies introduced into culture. The Madonna Lily is a Lilium candidum, but can also be categorized in Division 9. It is over 3,000 years old, so you can see why it could be associated with both divisions.

Division 4: American Hybrids are native to North America, where they grow wild. American hybrids are quite tall, with nodding, down-facing blossoms on tall, curved pedicels.

Division 5: Longiflorum Hybrids are showy and fragrant, and are cultivated usually as white trumpets at Easter. It features large, fragrant, outward-facing, trumpet-shaped, pure white flowers.

Division 6: Trumpet Hybrids provide long seasons of ample and fragrant blooms, growing so large as to necessitate staking. Tall and elegant, this species is composed of many Asian out-facing and down-facing trumpet-shaped flowers.

Division 7: Oriental Hybrids are crossbreeds with species native to Japan are fragrant and tall, with large, out-facing flowers. Robust flowers with a strong, enchanting fragrance. Many are called "Stargazers" because they appear to be up-facing.

Division 8: Garden Hybrids consists of hybrids of the other seven divisions. Garden hybrids will cross species by any number of methods such as the cut-style method, the grafted-style method and the in vitro isolated ovule pollination technique creating more variety, beauty, health, and disease resistance.

Division 9: Wild or Native Lilies are comprised of all the species in their native form, before hybridization. All the fabulous hybrids that we know and love growing in our gardens have derived from these wild lilies.

By popularity, Oriental Hybrid 'Stargazer' (Division 7) was a breeding breakthrough in the 1970s, noteworthy because of its upward-facing flowers, thus the name referencing looking up at the stars. Up until this point, Oriental Hybrids were heavy, with blossoms facing out or downward.

And Lilium candidum, Madonna Lily, from Division 9 (also known as White Lily, French Lily, Juno's Rose, St. Joseph's Lily, Ascension Lily, Annunciation Lily, Bourbon Lily) won the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. And other recent Royal Horticultural Society winners include Anastasia, Friso, Red Velvet and Fusion.

Choose the right location for Lilies. These bulbs thrive in well-draining soil and prefer to receive partial sunlight throughout the day. Most love the sun, and six hours or more is necessary. Remember the adage, "head in the sun, feet in the shade." To keep their roots cool, plant them with low-growing annuals, perennials, or grasses.

Hardiness zones 5-8 are ideal for most lilies. Some are hardy and can tolerate some chill, but not the heat found in the higher zones. Drainage is a critical issue for these bulbs. They like to be planted in a berm or raised bed so water drains away from the bulbs.

Deadhead lilies by removing faded flowers to encourage the plant to put energy into bulb development. Deer and rabbits are known to find the foliage, stems, and buds quite appealing. Consider planting onions and garlic around the perimeter or using deer and rabbit-resistant fencing and repellent sprays. And some lily species like Asiatic Lily, Easter Lily, Stargazer lily, and Oriental lily are toxic to cats.

This fact sheet is provided as an educational service of the National Garden Bureau (www.ngb.org/year-of-the-lily/).

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29. "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Ephesians 4:30-31. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..." Romans 5:1. "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:5.

Eddie Seagle is a Sustainability Verifier, Golf Environment Organization (Scotland), Agronomist and Horticulturalist, CSI: Seagle (Consulting Services International) LLC, Professor Emeritus and Honorary Alumnus (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College), Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning (University System of Georgia) and Short Term Missionary (Heritage Church, Moultrie). Direct inquiries to [email protected].