Dear Friends, This is a very slow HOT time in the garden. The real show is focused on the large Hibiscus varieties (No disco belles, please!) ,but Crinum 'Super Ellen' is holding her own. In a more subdued sort of way is the first bloom on the odd lily named above. This lily was described over a century ago, but only recently brought into cultivation. I'd call it more curious than beautiful, but it has 'attitude'. The PBS wiki picture from Arnold shows the form http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/… but the picture at Pacific Rim Native Plants http://www.hillkeep.ca/bulbs%20lilium.htm shows the distinct green central 'star'. My plants had some spring freeze damage and this is their first bloom so I have only a single flower per stem and they are a foot tall. Eventually they should get to 3 feet with up to 9 flowers per stem. I understand they 'should' bloom even later in the season. The only other lily in bloom right now is L. formosanum which seems a bit early too. It looks like a very garden worthy (whatever THAT means) addition to my temperate site. Anyone beside Arnold grow this species? Comments? Best Jm W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +
