Sunday 22 December 2013

Christmas lilies

 Anyone in New Zealand will tell you that it's not really Christmas until you have a bunch of Christmas lilies in your house. The heady scent, rich as incense, will easily fill a room and anyone walking in immediately takes a deep breath and says, "Ahhh. Christmas lilies!"

 You can buy them pretty much anywhere at this time of year, but mine of course are from my garden. I grew these from seed about 3 years ago, and this year is their best yet. I think they look pretty fine in this patch, surrounded by complimentary tones of silver and magenta. The neighbouring pink godetia provide a soft frilly contrast to the sleek lily buds.

 I brought two stems in and put them in my biggest vase with some airy bunches of gypsophila. It might be a bit of a cliche putting these two together, but I think the tiny pink fairylike flowers are a nice contrast to the huge lily heads. Some more gypsophila in a little jug helps keep the arrangement from being too static.

Breathe in, and say it with me. "Ahhh. Christmas lilies!"

8 comments:

  1. Wooow, it starts blooming literally on Christmas Eve!!! From the color of the buds, I thought the flowers must be red or pink. I would have never guessed it would be such beautiful white flowers!!! And the back of the petal in pale soft pink looks elegance. Wish I could smell it!!! The arrangement in the window is perfect, as usual, especially airy bunches of gypsophila in a small vase works well!
    Thank you for sharing, Ruth!
    "Ahhh. Christmas lilies!":)

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    1. Yes, the pure white of the petals is always a bit of a surprise against the purple buds! They are very elegant, I guess that is why they are also called Regal Lily. For me they are so special because they only bloom at Christmas time :)

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  2. This is so much fun to see what is growing on the other side of the world. Love the combination of lilies and Gypsophila. I have to try that next summer.
    Have a wonderful and Happy Christmas!
    Ingrid x

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    1. Thanks Ingrid, I think it is a very summery combination, and a bit relaxed too which is what Christmas in New Zealand is all about! Happy Christmas to you too :)

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  3. I absolutely adore Lilium regale, I can’t think of any flower in my garden with a better scent, and I have many scented flowers! I have around 80 Lilium regale and all grown from 3 bulbs I got as a present in 2004, I usually take seeds every other year to add to my collection, and grow a tray of 20 plants. Many of my seedlings have ended up in friends and neighbours gardens too, the only thing I am not so keen about is that they need individual staking, a huge job with so many – but it doesn’t look from your photos as if you stake yours, do you? Mine would be almost horizontal if I didn’t stake them, especially the more mature with lots of flowers.

    Loved your photos, the pink godetia looks great next to them, I might pinch that idea! I am afraid the only way to have lily scent in the house at Christmas here in London is to buy cut flowers, it is at least 6 months until mine will flower :-)

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    1. It's great how easy it is to grow them from seed! I should let these set some seed so I can get some more, but I'd rather pick them so I can bring them inside :) No, I haven't staked them, mainly because I do intend to pick them rather than leave them outside. I have other things I stake like delphiniums so I know what a job that is! The lilies are also surrounded by tall plants so that may be helping them stay upright. Hope you've got something scented in your garden that you can bring in, wintersweet is always my favourite in early winter. Have a great Christmas!

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  4. I can almost smell them. They are a July flower here in New England. Maybe I will buy some for Christmas. That would be lovely. A new tradition.

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    1. That sounds like a great tradition to start! Smell is such a powerful sense, as soon as I smell these I know that Christmas is here! A bit like the way some people like to have a live Christmas tree. Good smells are what Christmas is all about :)

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