What a beauty is the Oriental Lily Muscadet. How on earth does a plant so exotic in appearance thrive in our Aberdeen climate, its beyond me. Well anyway, sturdy stems which did not require staking, pure white blooms with just a hint of pink and heavily spotted with maroon speckles. Oh and before I forget, the flowers are the size of dinner plates. Muscadet is said to be heavily scented which hopefully I will find out if the temperature climbs any higher than 16c, there I go again moaning about the weather.
The bulbs were planted in March and the buds when developing were enormous, flowers started to open in the first week of August When planting it is essential to have them at least six inches deep and placed on a layer of grit. Orientals are not too fussy regarding soil other than a dislike for clay. In the growing season feed regularly with a tomato feed.
Height – 75cm – 2ft 6ins
Hardiness – Fully hardy.
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Planted along with Muscadet we have another Oriental, (Josephine.) This one is virtually identical in habit, a little taller 3ft in height and the flowers are a pale pink with red speckles.
Here I am updating the saved draft a few days later, the weather has turned warmer and the fragrance of these Lilies are knock out.
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We had our youngest Grandson living with us in early August. One afternoon when the weather was looking a bit unsettled I decided to take him to Balmedie beach which is just a few miles north of Aberdeen. When I say I haven’t been there for ages, I do mean decades. This is a most beautiful Beach and is where Donald Trump is creating what he says will be his flagship golf course and will well and truly put Aberdeen on the map. There has of course been the usual controversy which you would expect with a project like this. Along with the golf course we are going to have 500 houses and 950 time share flats. In spite of objections, the majority of Aberdeen people seemed to favour the idea and all is progressing well at the moment.
Well our visit went down well, the weather was very pleasant for the couple of hours we were there.
Yes its not much further
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No, not that way, straight ahead.
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Whoops of delight, no holding him back.
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Now where the heck has he gone.
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Phew there he is.
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© 2011, Alistair. All rights reserved.
1: The lilies look truly stunning next to that garden walk, and I can just imagine their heady scent as one walks beside them.
2: It’s gorgeous out by Balmedie. We went there last winter on a windy, icy day and it was absolutely breathtaking. As for one more golf course in Aberdeen… Don’t you have half a dozen of them already? And another dozen within a short drive of the town?
Søren recently posted..Flashback Friday
True enough Soren there are no shortages of golf courses here, perhaps the house building is the most lucrative from a commercial point of view.
Hi Alistair… it’s been a while! Muscadet is perhaps my favorite oriental and iy does better than others for me here in Wisconsin. Looks like a grand time with your grandson! Makes me miss our two little ones, although we did have them here about three weeks ago! Just purchased the prettiest Pinus densiflora ‘Oculus-draconis’ Dragon’s eye pine… of course, it gets large and I have no idea where to put it! I guess I knew that before I bought it! Take care, Larry
Larry recently posted..Completing the circle…
Hi Larry, Myra was just asking about you. Well that’s the end of our break, time to get back to the usual routine which may be boring for some but I love it. We are the masters at buying stuff which we have no room for. Our Lilies have been doing rather well. The Orienpets have been the weakest but as you once said they can get stronger in the second and third years. A couple of them, I think I may have placed them in a spot which is too shaded, time will tell. Hope you find a spot for the Pinus.
Wow, to both lilies and beaches. What fun! I’ve never been very adventurous with lilies, might give them a go next year, in a tunnel probably.
thanks alistair
Hi Fay, perhaps you should try a few in a sheltered spot.
Fay I have lilies here on Lewis and I’ve found they are one of the best for standing up to the wind, Stargazer has grown to 4 – 5 feet and needs no staking, this year some have not grown so tall infact are short, I think it is the cold we have had most of summer, Frances
Island Threads recently posted..wordless Wednesday
Hi Alistair – I really enjoyed this post! I planted a lot of Oriental Lily bulbs in June for the first time and I can’t wait for them to bloom. The plants are growing beautifully, tall and strong and I’m even enjoying the foliage on them (I’m amazed they don’t need any staking, so strong they are). Your photos have me very excited now as I wait for them to bloom, but I guess it will still be two months or so. (I do have a few have tiny buds already). If my blooms are even half as lovely as your I am going to be so happy with them!
PS: Your photos are great!
Christine @ The Gardening Blog recently posted..Flowers for my Mom
Hi Christine, I will look forward to seeing the Orientals in your garden.
Lovely lilies in a row. Th begonias don’t seem so flamboyant next to them.
As far as I’m concerned, you have put Aberdeen on the map.
b-a-g recently posted..Apple (19 AUG 2011)
Hi b-a-g, yes those Lilies are seriously flamboyant, time I cooled things down.
Hi Alistair, gorgeous lilies, glad you got at least one day warm enough to enjoy the scent of them too! That beach looks amazing. I thought Trump’s development was at least partially controversial because of the potential destruction of habitat, including beach?
Janet/Plantaliscious recently posted..Garden Bloggers Bloom Day August 2011
Hi Janet, concern about the habitat was a major concern with Trumps development which doesn’t affect the beach area which we visited.
I grow both lilies you have shown, but mine have never gotten the size of yours. Our growing season is shorter, but the flowers are just the same, beautiful. The beach should remain natural, send Donald home.
Donna recently posted..The Lost Art of Living-The American Porch
Hi Donna, fortunately this area of the beach will remain unaffected, but I will send him packing if he gets too greedy.
The beach is great, the lillies are unbelievably beautiful, but the glimpse of your house is …. striking! Love it!
Answering your question on my blog: Yes, I did (or didn’do) several things to make it ‘fast’: I didn’t install music and links that very few readers would use, removed unnecessary gadgets, reduced the blog’s header picture, left only items directly related to my blog. I am very glad to hear that my blog opens fast! Thanks for the feedback, Alistair!!!
Tatyana recently posted..Ligularia Blooming
Thanks for the information Tatyana.
The lilies are exquisite! I love the way you’ve incorporated them into your garden. It must smell heavenly. And the beach looks beautiful and pristine. I hope all goes well with the development project.
Holley recently posted..Reality Check
Beautiful Lilies Alistair, they look really wonderful along your pathway.
Thank you cat, surprising anything looks good this Summer
The beauty of the lilies is surpassed by the gorgeous beach. You seem to have it all in Aberdeen.
Carolyn @ Carolyn’s Shade Gardens recently posted..Chanticleer Part 2: Garden Seating
Carolyn, I think it is a beach that you would not expect to see in Aberdeen.
hello Alistair, love your lilies, I love the perfume of lilies,
I love highland and island beaches you almost always get them to your self or just a few other people, it can be a bit of a walk to the sea though especially if the tide is out, I bet your grandson used up a lot of energy and slept well that night,
I think summer has forgotten the north of Scotland, Frances
Island Threads recently posted..wordless Wednesday
It takes a lot to tire him out Fay, but he did sleep well that night as I did, those dunes were quite some climb.
Alistair these lilies are stunning. My Orientals never get that big but as Donna @ GWGT said our growing season is shorter. Mine were very small due to the drought we had. That beach is gorgeous and I love how your grandson made for water right away…please do keep an eye on Donald. I wouldn’t trust him but I am glad he may do something good for the community there…as long as he doesn’t hurt the habitat.
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Thrive
Donna, a large percentage of the community here are not so trusting, but the majority fell for his and his teams convincing ways.
Even though I’m not a big lily fan, those are gorgeous. I can smell them from here. ha.
Thanks for commenting on my post “mornin glory”. That beach looks relaxing. I saw a video on Trump when he was there. I’m curious how he’s going to draw people there. I used to be a golf course superintendent so it piqued my interest. Is it almost complete?
Greggo recently posted..Mornin’ Glory – GBBD
Greggo, the golf course is supposed to open next year with further development continuing for many years. As for drawing people he is marketing it as going to be the best golf course in the world where major tournaments will be held. Time will tell.
Dear Alistair,
Your lilies, your garden, the beach, your blog — all stunning!
The developers are all about making money. Even though it will bring jobs to the area, it is at the expense of wildlife, habitat and beautifully serene countryside . I find it very sad.
I don’t know why I have not been a regular visitor to your blog — I will rectify that.
Pamela
Pam’s English Garden recently posted..My August Blooms: The Big Picture
Pam, thank you for the visit, fortunately the development will not affect the direct area which I show.
I long to grow lilies succesfully – so far have only had meagre success but being further south than you see that I cannot blame the climate. Lovely beach pictures too.
Have another go Catherine, perhaps you didn’t plant them deep enough.