Easter Lilies
The White Trumpet Lily was brought to Europe from the Orient in the 1700's. Becoming quite popular in England, it was transported to Bermuda during the 1800's, and it was there in 1875 that a woman from Philadelphia got two lilies to bring home to the United States when she returned from her vacation. It is reported that a Philadelphia florist was so attracted to these highly perfumed flowers that he started his own collection and eventually produced enough lilies to offer to the general public. The lily has become synonymous with Easter, and it is now sold in garden centers, groceries, and Walmarts throughout the country as the Easter Lily.
In their natural state, Easter lilies would normally bloom the last of May or early June. In order to meet the demand for Easter, however, the lily bulbs must be "forced " to bloom on schedule, so commercial growers follow carefully controlled timetables to meet the deadline. As we all know, the date for Easter varies from year to year. Growers know that the buds should be visible by the first day of Lent if the crop is to be ready on time. Since the lilies are actually easier than working with poinsettias, the ambitious home gardener may be encouraged to grow his own by using similar timetables to force the lilies to flower for Easter. If you opt for the easy purchase method, however, there are certain things to watch for:
Make sure the foliage is green and healthy all the way to the base of the plant--no yellowing leaves. You may have to remove paper or a plastic wrapper to check.
The stem should be sturdy. Tall, skinny ones indicate they have not received enough light, making them more prone to breaking.
Choose a plant that has just one or two open blooms with other plump buds.
Once you bring the lily home:
Keep it in a cool place in indirect sunlight.
Keep it evenly moist, but be sure not to over-water.
As the flowers open, be sure to snip off the anthers (the part of the flower that bears the pollen) just below the pollen tip so there will be no pollen to stain the white petals, your clothes, or the surrounding area. This will also make the flowers last longer.
Remove flowers as they fade (this is called deadheading) to encourage the unopened buds to bloom and to keep the plant looking neat and attractive.
There is a word of caution concerning the toxicity of the lily, however. According to a report from Purdue University the Easter Lily has a high toxicity rating for cats and is usually fatal without immediate attention.
Finally, don't toss that lily into the trash as we usually to do with poinsettias, for with a minimum of care the lily can be planted in the outside garden to bloom again at a later date.