Hi,

I am an experienced gardener, but not experienced with lilies. I've had a couple of LA hybrids, that's about it. I am planning to expand my lily horizon this year and would like some help choosing a couple to start with. For most of the areas I'm thinking of, I am willing to just experiment. But there is one area for which I have more particular wishes. I would love to hear your ideas or recommendations, as well as any comments on the particular varieties I am considering.

It is a sitting area, we call it our "meditation" garden. Has a bench and nice view. It is bordered by shrubs, so has shady areas that have hostas, but it also has plenty of sun around the edges and middle. I would love to have fragrance. I envision a lily positioned close to the bench so that you get wisps of aroma as you sit there. Possibly two that bloom at different times would be good too. Color - soft oranges, yellows, possibly white. If you are familiar with the rose Morden Sunset, this is the color scheme of that area (with dark blue/purple as counterpoint).

The ones I've considered so far - Northern Delight, Ortega, Griesbach Tetra Gold, Avocado, Elise, Montego Bay. All of these are available at the Lily Nook. A friend has had very good experience with them so we will be placing an order soon. All are orienpets except the Tetra Gold (trumpet). My friend has had good luck keeping orienpets and trumpets going here with winter mulching.

Avocado - described as apricot, fragrant. Looks nice but maybe boring?

Elise - described as mango colored. I don't know if it's fragrant but since it's an orienpet I assume it is. Can I make that assumption? Downward facing flowers.

Montego Bay - described as bronze/gold and fragrant but the picture looks quite pink. A google search found one that is more orange but I'm really not sure about the color.

N. Delight - melon orange blooms with purply background, looks lovely. Not sure about fragrance.

Ortega - white with orange/yellow throat, fragrant. Downward facing.

G. Tetra Gold - deep golden with purple back. I love the trumpet flower shape. Not sure about fragrance.

Thank you so much in advance for any help!

Ann