According to Leigh Kelly, who operates a Uralla business which grows and delivers cut flowers, the traditional Christmas lily is again in demand this festive season. The vibrant bulb is adding splashes of colour to many households and gardens throughout the region.
“I’ve got over 8,000 Asiatic Lilies now. They come in many colours, patterns and sizes,” Ms Kelly said.
Lily blooms are big, bold and come in many distinct varieties – adding to their appeal. Leigh Kelly said that their long stems beneath often large flowers make them an ideal species for cutting and putting in a vase.
“They actually do not require a lot of work, in respect to watering. They don’t like really wet soil,” she said.
“However, they are resilient above all. Like many others in the area, my garden has been like a rice paddy in recent weeks. Yet, my lillies have bloomed marvellously.
“The secret is mulch, mulch and more mulch.”
Pest prevention is especially important in respect to lilies. Gardening authorities warn that snails and slugs find their new shoots particularly delicious. On the whole, gardening experts generally assert that growing lilies is much less challenging than a beginner grower imagines.
Leigh Kelly will be selling her cut flowers in the Armidale Plaza (near K-Mart) on Thursday and Friday December 22 and 23, as well as Christmas Eve, depending on flower availability.
Story: Gary Fry
