Tom's Lilium and the First Grand Bay Garden Club Meeting!

[Ann B.]

Hi, Tom and Everyone!

No matter how many times I see this, it really amazes me...

I don't remember whether I posted that I was doing a Propagation Presentation for the very first meeting of a newly formed garden club, the Grand Bay Garden Club in Grand Bay, AL on the evening of Nov. 19, 2002.

Well, it just so happened that the week before, our very own Landspro member, Tom had sent me 3 Tiger Lily bulbs in the mail. It was a pleasant surprise when he wrote to tell me that he was sending them, and it was timely because I needed material to demonstrate at the meeting.

During that meeting I demonstrated how to propagate one of Tom's lilium bulbs, and tonight, I was going through my ziplock bags checking on the status of everything, and what do you know? These little babies are gorgeous!

Thank you, Tom!

These pictures are in the honor of Tom for the gracious and treasured gifts that you have given me:

http://www.landspro.com/Tom_L1.JPG

http://www.landspro.com/Tom_L2.JPG

http://www.landspro.com/Tom_L3.JPG

http://www.landspro.com/Tom_L4.JPG


http://www.landspro.com/Tom_L5.JPG


I also went out to my flower bed and dug up a couple of Stokes Aster roots to demonstrate propagating from sections of roots. I placed these roots into the same zip lock bag as the Lilium scales.


http://www.landspro.com/Tom_S1.JPG

The bag of scales and the two roots were not directly under the fluorescent light, but were tucked away on a shelf about 3-4 feet from the lights.


Oh, what FUN it is to propagate and make such wonderful new FRIENDS!!!

Thanks, Tom for the precious gifts and thanks Grand Bay Garden Club for giving me the honor of presenting at your first meeting!

And thanks to my fellow Master Gardener, Wanda for asking me to do the presentation!

[Ann B.]

I thought that I had lost these, but I found some tucked in the pile and still intact.

This Lilium bulblet is one year old. It still has a single leaf as opposed to the stem with leaves up the side.

I thought you might wish to see a one year old bulblet.

(Don't mind the dirty fingernails. I have been at it none stop for days!)

The leaf first...

[Ann B.]

This is the bulb...

[Ann B.]

They are beginning to look like regular lilium now.

I can't believe how much they have grown in the last 6 months.

Hopefully, I can manage to take a picture in the next couple of days.

They are really CUTE!

[vicki]

Ann,
I can hardly wait to see what 6 months additional growth has wrought. Eagerly awaiting those pics.

[Ann B.]

With a set of true leaves....


Not all are to this point yet. Some are very elongated from not getting enough sun, but nearly all of them are developing true leaves after a rather short dormancy period.

[Ann B.]

I just got off the phone with a member of the Grand Bay Garden Club. I think it must be ESP!

I am scheduled to do a presentation on propagating plants in May. They had originally wanted to have me speak in April, but I asked that it be delayed a month so that I can have some cuttings to share.

My brugsmansia are coming up from dormancy. I saw some signs of new leaves on my Tibouchina. Clerondrum Ugandense is also sprouting. Cannas and daylilies are coming up like crazy.

I will need to start some new lilium scales and leaf cuttings of Rex Begonias to show them how easy it is.

Oh, how FUN! I surely miss my gardening and propagating, and I am thankful to be over surgery and well healed from it. Year 2 is almost over at school. We are now in our 4th quarter.

This summer is going to be GRAND!

[vicki]

Oh how wondeful Ann. These were the bulbils Tom shared with you? Or scales off of the bulbs?

[Ann B.]

Vicki,

I see that I never answer your question.

I'm pretty sure that these were from the outer scales that I took from Tom's bulbs.

It's about time that I took a picture. They bloomed last year, but I didn't get a picture. I don't remember why.

Forgive the weeds in the background. They are in potted daylilies, and I am behind on getting rid of those dreaded monster weeds.

[vicki]

Ann,
How pretty! My bulbs that Tom shared with me are doing
well too. I have 5 sturdy plants, forming buds now. They are so pretty when in bloom.