Question
I was thinking of planting Lilies this year. The bulbs don't cost as much as the main flower that is growing in a pot so maybe I can order bulbs. My question is about what lily to buy. I would like toorder as many as possibl. In my very wildest dreams, I would order 100. I am a beginner at the Lily section. What advice can you give us for this addmittedly unrealistic vision I have for our gardern?

Answer
You are too late to plant this year's crop of Lilies.  It is however time to make decisions and place orders for the autumn delivery of next year's Lilies.

Lilies in case you haven't noticed have begun to bloom.  I agree that you should plant as many as possible  -  but I worry you are in over your head with 100.  Start digging now.  These plants need lots of bone meal, terrific drainage, and rich soil, all in a very sunny spot in the garden which I hope you have.  Afternoon shade is ok, just make sure there is a lot of sun.

They will all need to be staked as well.

Van Engelen Bulbs (www.vanengelen.com) has some website specials that will make their wholesale-quantity orders even more of a bargain.

I am partial to the Oriental Lilies.  The most popular Lily of all time I think is probably Casablanca.  It is beautiful, incredibly fragrant and not very picky.  You can get 100 Casablanca Lilies this year for $145 - a huge leap because of the U.S. Dollar drop.  One of the top world producers of Oriental Lilies has a website for fall orders, too: B&D Lilies (www.lilybulb.com); Casablanca there is 6 for about $32.  At those prices, Van Engelen suddenly does not seem so pricey.

I have ordered with the utmost satisfactory results from both of them.  But bulbs are getting costly.  Ground preparation is everything if you want to ensure repeat performance for many years.

And no, it is not unrealistic.  We all need to wish we could do something before we do it.  That's why it's called Accomplishment.

Thank you for writing.  Keep me posted on your plans.  Sounds wonderful.