Are there no indications of any buds forming? I would have thought it a bit early for Lilium regale or other trumpet types to be blooming - they bloom in late July to early August in my area.

In general, lilies do not require a heavy nutrient load. If your soil is well drained and fertile enough to support the growth and flowering of other plants, the lilies should be fine as well. I have never fertilized bulbs except in a container setting - they have always managed to thrive in decent garden soil that was amended or mulched routinely with compost.

Thanks, GG. I'm attaching two pics, one showing a regale that bloomed, the other showing the brown would-be buds on most of the others. Perhaps this will help you make a diagnosis, for which also thanks.

Gary

So the buds DID form but never developed? Bud blast does happen with lilies but is not all that common outside of greenhouse culture. It can be attributed to a number of factors but is it possible you went through some unusual weather patterns early in spring? And unusually hot/dry spell while the buds were forming could have caused dessication.......I am not sure that IS the answer but it is a possibility :-) The good news is that a lack of flowering or mature bud formation directs energy back into the bulb, increasing its size and flower productivity in subsequent years. Providing the weather plays nice, that is!!

Thanks, GG. What you say makes sense. We did have a freak hot spell several weeks ago; otherwise the temps have been moderate and we've enjoyed a few good rainy days assuring gentle, deep watering. I do treat them (and all my plants) to regular doses of compost. That notwithstanding, a buddy a mile away has two stands of regales taken from my garden two years ago and that have bloomed prodigiously. What a difference a mile makes.

Gary