Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1926-10-22
TWO BEAUTIFUL
NATIVE LILIES
(By Stephen j. Harmelingl

our state, ana the former aDOunuS
on Marry island, There are acres
OF it near the gravel pits and ii
the vicinity of the graveyard,
The genus Lilium is divided in
to Sub-genera, each sub-geneus
containing a number of species
which have peculiar characters
ties in common. The Washington
ianum belongs 10 the sub-gems
Fluriou, while the Columbianum
belongs TO the sub-genus Marie
gon.
The above classification is inter
esting only to our High School
pupils who study botany. To the
ordinary lover Of beautiful flow
ers it is more interesting to know
how and where the lilies grow
To consider the lilies, how they
grow, how we must treat them
in our gardens, and if there is any
money in growing them.
II is a good rule to treat al
plants and bulbs in a way which
corresponds more or less with the
environment under which they
grow in their wild state. Our
olumbianum lily grows an d
thrives on the most rocky, gray
ely and sandy soil. Soil for whicl
YOU would not give ten cents an
acre if you had to farm it. Its
bulb. is found about six or eight
inches below the surface. Lilies
glow III two ways, Some have
roots only from the base of the
bulb, while others have also mop
Of roots above the bulb issuing
from the stem. Our Colmbianum
has only the base roots while the
Washingtouianum has also root
above the bulb. The Columbia
mum must have perfect drainage
and the poorer and lighter the soil
tie better, although it will adapt
itself TO shot clay if not too wet
and soggy during winter. / have
lad i; III our garden for the pasi
fifteen years, and under cultiva-
ton the size OF the bulbs increased
from an average of three inches IN
the wild state to seven to nine
inches under cultivation and with
flower stems six feet high. In one
respect this lily is an exception to
tile rule. All lilies which have
roots only at the base of the bulb
should not be planted deep about
four or five inches. Columbianum
however delights to have eight
inches of soil above it. We are
now experimenting with shallow
sr planting and mulching. A bulb
having only base roots must have
rood soil beneath it for the root.
If you have a sandy or gravelly
knoll or slope you have ideal 10
cation for this lily,
The Washingtonianum viii a.
lapt itself to ordinary garden cul-
tufe 1t is beautiful lily The
Flowers which are large open q
clear white which in few days
change to pink. 1t has a mop of
roots above the bulb and must be
planted deep, about eight inches,
The Oolumbianum, TOO, has a
beautiful Flower with small brown
,pots on the rellexed petals. Both
are very fragrant. Both grow
whorls ON the stems. Lilies are
like women. Each species aud ev-
en- variety needs special treatment
and il we give it to them they rc.
pond gloriously
We are people of fads Fifty
| years ago it was caunas. Then
it was gladioli and iris. Then
came the dahlias The coming
fai is bulbs 10 general ana lilies
in particular, though lilies aud
roses have held their own from
time imncmorium
Here n the Puget Sound eoan.
iry we have ihe ideal soil aud
climate foI Successful bulb cul
lmrc
The Way,ile Gardens" OF
Mentor. Ohio list the Washing
iuuiauum at seventy five GENTS
mr bulb John Shoppers. 512 itb
Ave Sew York. in his book ON
.llir mentions both Cor part,u
|iaf garden arrangement These
iilh may De grown from seed
IS costly as amy ediuaty garden
. Flow
~ $50 time the native Friiel'aris
~ a..