Who is this?
He is the Prince of the Lilies from Knossos. He was the ceramic top of a box of matches because back in 1980 when he was bought as a tourist souvenir, everyone smoked and a fancy box of matches was a good thing. I used the matches long ago but discovered the top in a clear-out box. Whether or not he was part of the bull leaping cult of Knossos or a keen gardener we shall never know. He is standing as if he fancies himself somewhat and is, perhaps, gesturing at the lilies he has grown. Is he proud of his lilies?
I am certainly very happy with mine. Here is the pot of giant lilies out in the front garden, which local children like so much on the basis that they’re taller than anyone’s dad.
They suffered dreadfully from lily beetle this year, as did all of my lilies. My garden is like a supermarket for lily beetles. For a couple of months I used a spray which purported to deter the lily beetle by making the lily smell of something else.
The beetles were not deterred. Eventually I had to wash every leaf of every plant with dilute washing up liquid laced with ground cloves. That worked.
Here are the orange lilies by the little wall.
On an opposite wall there’s another clematis
and a clematis rampant beside the OH’s shed.
Even the tree that I planted in the soil of the back bed and curtailed considerably is happy.
It likes the sunshine of a fully south facing bed because it is a Mexican Chitalpa which is flowering for the first time, can you spot the small pink flower?
The variety is called ‘Million bells. which I would class as a slight overstatement but there have been a succession of individual very lily like flowers.
However the best lilies are still the giant pink lilies on the steps at the back of the house
they have fought off lily beetles, endured three heatwaves and are still pink perfection.
I would happily be prince of those lilies, though not necessarily wearing a one leg bathing suit and a feather in my hat.
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