Lilies for everyone Symbols of royalty for some and of purity for others, lilies originate from many areas of the world. There are almost a hundred different species to choose from, and are the joy of many a gardener. Lilies are famous for their spectacular flowers, which come in every shape and size. The early species flower after the peonies and irises, while others bloom well into September. The flower of the iris consists of six tepals: three petals and three sepals, which are identical. These tepals are straight and curve towards the back. Some varieties have double flowers. Colours are varied, ranging from pure white to the darkest of purples, with all shades of pink, yellow, and orange in between. The flowers appear in groups at the end of strong stems that feature long, slender leaves. Lilies develop from bulbs made up of a series of overlapping fleshy scales that lack the pro- tective covering that tulips have. That is why lilies are vulnerable to dehydration and why the bulbs should be purchased in containers. If buying bulbs that are not potted, you should select large, firm, undamaged specimens with short stems. The bulb will not develop into a plant that year if any stems are broken.
Landscaping a slope New gardeners may find that their skills and experience run short when it comes to land- scaping hilly terrain. Sloping land can be daunting, and the challenge increases with the degree of the gradient, its dimensions, and whether it climbs or falls away from the house. The good news is that these problems can be turned into advantages if you take the time to plan your work well. A descending slope, which often includes a nice view, is easier to landscape than one that climbs away from a home. Working with the natural slope, you can create a rockery or an artificial stream with a series of waterfalls. If you want to create a path, make sure it winds its way down the slope rather than dropping in a straight line, which would only accentuate the difference in elevation. The landscaping challenge is a bit tougher when the slope climbs away from the home. An interesting option in this case is to think about creating secret gardens, threaded with winding paths and lined with shrubs. If reten- tion walls are necessary, choose good-quality, pleasant-looking materials, such as stone or wood. Alternately, carefully chosen shrubs or other plantings can conceal retaining walls. As best you can, avoid planting regular grass on a slope. When the time comes to cut it, you will have a hard time with the mower,
flower beds, either alone or in small groupings. These elegant flowers with an intoxicating perfume are long-lasting and easy to culti- vate, so it’s not surprising that they have been admired across cultures for more than 4,000 years!
especially if the slope is very steep. If you really want to have a carpet of greenery, opt for thyme, which is a great alternative if the spot receives enough sun. Although this type of land is a big challenge for gardeners, with a bit of planning, you will be very proud of the end result.
Lilies are suitable for growing in perennial
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