The perfect Lily

As a lover of flowers the impossible question is always “Which is you favourite?” As the seasons change so does my answer. I have a real fondness for lilies and can never resist a Casablanca Lily, it's perfect bloom that changes so drastically from bud to full bloom and the intoxicating sweet fragrance that follows consumes me. There is nothing as welcoming as the distinct fragrance that fills your home as you unlock the front door after a long summer day in the florist. It’s amazing that I work with flowers all day but they still have the ability to take my breath away.

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That being said a burnt orange Tiger Lily can add a new dimension to any arrangement of flowers. There are a couple of things you need to bear in mind when buying lilies. Always try and choose stems that are thick and firm. There should never be any slimy reside on the stems. Plan ahead and always buy lilies in bud form. If you open them at home you will ensure perfect flowers with no pollen stains and no damaged petals. Tiger and St Joseph Lilies are sold single buds or multiple buds, the singles often being the cheapest. Personally I prefer one or two buds per stem, the stems with five and six blooms are more difficult to arrange and the small blooms never open fully which halves my pleasure. Pollen is synonymous with lilies and can be easily dealt with. Always remove the pollen as soon as the lily opens, before they become “fuzzy”. If you get pollen powder on your hand never rub it off, hold your hand under running water and the pollen will simply wash away. If you should get pollen on your clothes or furniture remove it with sticky tape wrapped around your fingers the wrong way and dab it off, don’t rub it. Removing the pollen also prolongs the vase life of your lilies.

Arum Lilies are so easily grown in the garden and once cut if you put some cello tape on the bottom of the stem this will hold the stem intact and ensure a long vase life. “Take time to enjoy the simple things in life”, for me a vase of lilies at home is definitely in that category.

Written by Jackie West-Evans owner of Country Flowers “Living my Dream”