Question
I am about to make a circular raised planting area around a flagpole.  I was recently got some lillium asiatic mix and was thinking of planting it inside the circle then on the outside I was thinking of planting marigolds.  I live in the country & don't want deer, squirrels or rabbits chewing on the lilies.  I wonder if these two mix okay and also what kind of a low growing flower that would fill in between these other two?  I live in West Central Missouri.

Answer
Hi Mike,
Thanx for your question.  I'm in the Kansas City area so we have similar growing conditions.  I don't think you're going to have much trouble with critters on your lilies and the marigolds make a nice repellent.  May I also suggest Delosperma cooperi, trailing ice plant, a perennial from South Africa found in a lot of nurseries in Missouri and Kansas.  It has nice succulent foliage and colorful, small daisy-like blooms of pink or purple.  It will eventually make a nice, low-growing carpet.  Make sure the soil drains well.  It does not like wet roots and will do well in Missouri's hot, often dry, summers.

I hope this helps.

Tom