For those of us that love color in the garden the lily will not disappoint! Very hardy and easy to grow, the lily is a perennial and comes in many color variations and different styles for your garden.
The Asiatic Lily. This is an early summer bloomer and a taller plant that does not need staking since the stalks are very strong and thick and can stand alone. These lillies make a great addition to a structured garden with taller plants in back and shorter ones in the front. The flower has 5 or more pointed petals and is one color. This year I had a stalk that was 5' high and produced 15 flowers!
The Oriental Lily. This lily blooms in July and has a heavy beautiful fragrance. The stalks cluster together and look like a bouquet in your garden. Petals are large, somewhat pointed and come in a variey of striking colors and can have multiple contrasting colors as well.
The Tiger Lily. The oriental version has large downward facing lillies and a very tall stalk (can be 6' tall). Traditionally this lily comes in a vibrant fiery orange with black spots. This year I purchased a pink one and have also seen it in red and yellow. The plant is edible (although can be toxic to cats) and Hummingbirds love this variety.
The Daylily. This variety is a less structured, rugged plant which is commonly used as erosion control. The flower blooms for one day and then withers, and another one is ready to bloom the next day. Some species bloom at night. Most commonly seen are the Stella D'Oro and the roadside Orange. Now the daylily comes in peachy yellows and burgundy variations. Takes over large sections of the garden.
Here are some pictures from my garden for you to enjoy!