It's a cold day in Minnesota. It was nice to be able to see such beautiful flowers on this cold day.

Thanks for sharing,
Cowboy

How beautiful! Very nice pictures. Lots of rare lilies.

Your 'Mohave' looks very similar to 'Arena'. Did you have any chance to compare them? I have 'Arena' and I want to order 'Mohave' from VE. On their picture they look quite different.

I enjoyed the virtual lily tour. It was so nice to see last year's blooms and know if we are patient, our lilies will be as pretty as ever. Of particular interest to me was your asiatic, Dots and Dashs. I did a search to see if I could find a source but to no avail. I did find the hybridizers of this lily are Hugh and Ruth Cocker of Rochester MN. They are doing some wonderful hybridizing according to the article. Could you tell me where you purchased Dots and Dashs. The Lily Nook must have had it at one time as it is in their reference but not for sale section. Thanks.

I did get Dots and Dashs from the Cocker's. But they retired last year and are no longer selling lilies. I may know someone who might have one to sell and I will check with them to find out.

Thanks Mainiac for quick reply. It would be nice if I could locate Dots and Dashs. It kind of intrigues me. Since the hybridizers retired, I hope some one who appreciates lilies took over their vast gardens. The pictures and article about them was the story of genuine lily lovers. They raised six daughters, and named many lilies they hybridized with the girls' names. Mr. C. was a Morse code operator in WW 2 and when they developed this particular lily, named it Dots and Dashs because it reminded him of the code. He was quick to point out he wanted it spelled dashs and not dashes. You don't always get to know the background of a lily. It is fun when you do. Thanks again.

Hugh and Ruth Cocker have lots of great factual stories. Like, did you know that Kathy Jan and Dots and Dashs are siblings?

Since you are from MN, leftwood, I imagine there are various facts known to lily growers in your area concerning the Cockers. In reading about them in a past article, they were both in their late 80's, yet still actively hybridizing. Just shows the lily love lingers on. I hope some one will take over their gardens in their retirement or perhaps they will just enjoy the fruits of their labor, quietly, retiring from activity. You mention that the lily named Kathy Jan was a sibling to Dots and Dashs which is fascinating to me as the picture I found of K.J. is orange with black brushmark. Dots and Dashs and Kathy Jan must have had a different lily "daddy." I found names and pictures of three other lilies named for their daughters. They are Anita Gail, Randa Lou, and Beverly Ann. That makes four. I expect there are two other lilies named after the other two daughters. (Six daughters in all.) All quite beautiful lilies. If anyone out there in Lily Land has these lilies growing in their gardens, they must be enjoying these sister lilies. Researching lilies on a cold, snowy day gets the juices going, just waiting for the real thing. I hope I can buy Dots and Dashs if Mainiac is successful in finding it for me.

Where did you get your lilium henryi var citrinum? It is so beautiful? I wonder why this one isn't offered more often.

Is it harder to grow than the orange kind, and does it really need more lime in the soil?

Your lilies are beautiful. Thank you for your postings. Now and previous ones.

To be honest, I don't remember. I think from one of the Lily Society Regional Bulb sales.

Hi Mainiac,

I see you have Elegant Lady. Its one of my favorite lilies because its fragrant yet blooms early. It bloomed here June 2nd last year. So its my first lily of the season every year.

I e-mailed Brent and Becky's to find out why they weren't offering it anymore and they told me that their grower had discontinued planting it. This year they have "pink heaven" another LLO (which I've ordered) but what I like about Elegant Lady is that it has the classic Longiflorum shape (without the extra recurving from the Oriental side) and the most beautiful pearl-like bluish pink color. Last Fall I re- planted that bed and picked out all the little offset bulblets. (It doesn't seem to make stem bulbets readily - they were all pretty deep offset from the bulb itself.)

The only US seller I've found this spring is Dutch Gardens. I've ordered some that I hope will be OK. (I haven't bought from them before.) I'll try scaling some bulbets when they arrive. But I only did that for the first time last spring - so we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for sharing! :)

-Helen

You're right, lily_grower, Dots and Dashs and Kathy Jan do have different fathers, but the same mom. Hugh said it is one of the few times he used mixed pollen to fertilize in his breeding efforts. To see the Cocker lilies, and other MN bred lilies, go to:
http://www.northstarlilysociety.com/

Mainiac, your lilies are always a welcome sight. Thanks!

Rick

Gorgeous!!!!Thanks for the pictures....drool material!!!
I think I may have found the name for an unnamed lily I have...shimmer...do you know if this is a fairly common lily or not. I've enclosed a link of mine....think I got it from a avid gardener who was downsizing due to health, she couldn't remember the names of things.

Here is a link that might be useful: Could this be shimmer?

Thanks leftwood for sending info. on Northstar Lily Society's web site. Minnesota certainly has it's share of lily activity involving hybridizing. I found on their Photo Gallery when I clicked on Lily Hybrids,some amazing lily photos of hybrids. Some I've known, but the vast majority are not in mass distribution, and an eye-opener to an appreciative eye. Some time ago, while surfing the net, I found a site you and others might be interested in viewing. The photography is unique and the selection of lilies is great. The site is based in Ottawa Canada and Canadians certainly love their lilies. This person just began growing lilies in 2000 yet has amassed quite a collection. Go to http://www.mikesbackyardgarden.org
Or type in mikesbackyardgarden under Search if desired and you will find several mentions of his site, and related sites.

Flora2b, Shimmer is an unregistered hybrid from Buggycrazy. I am thinking your might be Pink Parfait Frost. I will look for a photo.

Here is a picture of Pastel Pink Frost. I am thinking now that it is not yours.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Mainiac, I agree the lily I have is not Pastel Pink Frost. My picture is poor and I will try to get a much clearer picture next year,I also realize that my Italia is not what it appears...geez guess I'll be looking for that one too. Thanks again.

To Mainiac, I am writing in regard to your message of Feb 3 which is fifth in the series of messages. I had inquired about the possibility of acquiring Dots and Dashs, the beautiful Yellow which you had photographed. You mentioned that you may know some one who might have Dots and Dashs, and said that you would check with them to find out. By any chance were you successful? I don't wish to be a bother to you, so please don't go to extra trouble, but I was intrigued by this lily and I would love to buy it. Thanks again.

very nice! You have quite a collection! Love esperanto. Can't say I have many of those in your garden other then 'lollipop', just ordered 'Oriana' have 'caravan'

Mainiac may have been talking about me, regarding Dots and Dashs. A very popular cultivar. I only have a few left, and perhaps some bulblets in the fall. While they were always available at our local Lily Society's fall bulb sale, and supplied by the original hybridizers (the Cockers), the Cockers have retired and hardly garden at all anymore. We'll see what comes up at this fall's sale.

lily_grower_zone_5

I sent you a private message some time ago through GW. Please go to MY PAGE (for mainiac and send me an email)

To Mainiac - Apparently messages are not being forwarded through Garden Web. You sent me one according to above message which I failed to receive. I took your suggestion and then sent one to you a week ago by way of Garden Web. I am assuming you never got yours just as I never got the one from you. Maybe there is some hold up on Garden Web exchanging member's messages. I am going to send you another today and see if it gets to you by way of Garden Web.
To Leftwood - Thank you and keep me in mind if you see in the Fall or at any other time, one or more bulbs or bulbets of Dots and Dashs.
Spring has arrived, I do believe, in Zone 5. Here's to a beaautiful lily season in a few months time.

TO: lily_grower_zone_5
Do you belong to Dave's Garden or Tinker's? If so private message me there. Same alias...