Mike, low height and brown buds are the result of late planting. Brown leaves can be also caused by fungus. Remove and destroy these leaves. Your lilies might also abort healthy buds this year. Let the foliage die naturally - this will help to feed the bulb for the next year. They will be fine. 'Muscadet' is a wonderful lily, you'll love it!

Thanks so much for your response. The first flower bloomed today. It's undersized but really pretty!

Mike

In the spring, like in May, I have often found lilies on sale at a local hardware store. (I canÂt resist a deal) Many are sprouted. I try to pick ones that are not brown tipped but even so, some in a package often are. Though the spring planting may not be optimum I consider it an investment for the next year. Many of these will not bloom at all the first summer. Of the ones I planted this year several bloomed very short like yours did: a full sized bloom on a pygmy stem. I have learned from experience that even ones that seem to produce no growth above ground are busy growing underneath. I planted a bunch of apparent "duds" a year ago last spring and this year every single one came up.