I'm glad I didn't have a neighbor like yours when I first bought asiatics and LA hybrids, several years ago.
South Georgia is as hot and humid as Houston and mine do fine.
Does your neighbor have written proof from a reliable source like TAMU that lilies don't grow in Houston, or did they just fail to grow for her?

Plant some annuals or shallow rooted perennials like salvias to shade the roots so they'll be cool. Have fun and enjoy.
How did you 'get suckered' into buying lilies? Nobody needed to encourage me, LOL.

Nell

These come every year here in Baytown. I didn't take a pic of them last year that I could find, but they come back with more flowers each year...I rarely water them and generally neglect them. They get dappled sun. I grow many things folks say I couldn't. This year I'm trying some Lily of the Valley. How's that for hubris? It's all about location, location,location.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. They are on sale at Costco right now for 4.88 for a bag of 18 bulbs. Most bulbs are showing the tip, so I put them in the ground right away.

LTF

You will be fine!! I have asiatic lillies that I bought from Costco a few years ago; they are growing like crazy in Houston. They do fine. I keep them in part sun. They have all sprouted over the last 2 weeks and are about 6-12 inches tall right now.

Does anyone know if oriental lilies will grow in this hot climate, and if so, where I can still buy some??