Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily) – May 25, 2017
Asiatic lilies planted in a patio container last summer did poorly but they redeemed themselves this year.
Lilium ‘Black Out’ opened this week, but on its own time, not mine. I had been watching and waiting, hoping it would be ready in time for ARTiculture, my local garden club’s flower show on Tuesday. Instead the flowers waited until Wednesday to reveal their deep red beauty.
Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily) – May 25, 2017
Lilium ‘Black Out’ (Asiatic lily) -May 26, 2017
Entries for flower show had to be delivered on Monday for judging on Tuesday morning.
With no lilies available (and gardenias were still just fat buds also on Monday), Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’ served double-duty. She made her debut in my Monday vase early in the morning and by afternoon she was entered in the Horticulture division of the show.
Fragrant Pair -May 22, 2017
Only two flowers were entered in the Paeonia class and both were mine. Peony ‘Pink Parfait’ was my second entry. Both peonies had been cut in bud stage several weeks earlier and stored in the refrigerator. They held up very well using this technique.
The judges created a sub-class and both flowers earned blue ribbons—a fun ending to the story.
Peonies at ARTiculture
pbmGarden 
I love that Lily!
Thanks! They seem innocuous but yes, your comments were going into spam. Glad you let me know Jason.
Beautiful, and congrats on your blue ribbons. 🙂
Thanks Judy. The judges were very free with the awards but even so, fun to win the ribbons.
Flowers can be so uncooperative at times! Both your lily and your peonies are wonderful. I was surprised to learn that a peony flower’s life could be extended for such a long period in the refrigerator, not that I have any peonies to try using that technique. Congratulations on your blue ribbon!
All the flowers I’d waited on to bloom in time for the show are now open, but too late for this year’s judging. I’ve used that peony trick only twice but it worked great.
Well done with the peonies! Great forethought to chill them and then get them to flower on time (not easy I’m sure). The lily is gorgeous.
Peonies were really beautiful this year so I’m glad I could preserve some in the refrigerator for the show. The lily has been great. I gave up lilies for a while because the deer love them and I didn’t want to encourage them to jump the fence. Glad I tried this red one.
I’ve given up on lilies too because of the red lily nettle that devours them, however this year the lilies that are in the garden are doing quite well.
‘Black Out’ was certainly worth waiting for.
Indeed it was. Have really been enjoying ‘Black Out’.
Congratulations! They deserved the prize. The ‘Black Out’ looks marvelous.