Lilium Pumilum a delight to grow.

Again, under ideal circumstances, these will flower after twelve months; and always by the second year. Which is just as well, because, as with most species liliums, as garden subjects; the bulbs tend to be short lived.

By tend, I mean that in literature; they say is does well for a couple of years. The longest I have kept the same bulbs flourishing year in is ten years. In cooler summer climes, other than the furnace like summers of here, this Lilium will happily self seed, springing into flower in odd nooks and crevices the following year.

There is a certain luminescence to the petals, which when touched by the rays of the sun, light up the countenance of this dainty lilium, filling the world for a brief moment with total joy of presence.

This strong presence is reflected in its resistance to basal rot. As we all know,liliums vary greatly in their susceptibility to basal rot. All of the European species are very susceptible. Some of the very susceptible Asiatic species include, auratum, brownii, rebellum, japonicum, formosanum, cernuum and duchartrei; but I'm digressing again, which unfortunately is my manner. This article needs to be only about L. Pumilum, which thankfully is fairly resistant to basal rot. Sorry to woffle, it is a mannerism I can not shake.

Given that we have raised the issue of basal rot, perhaps it behoves me to say a little on good garden practises which will help eleviate this disorder within your garden.

With good husbandry, this should not be much of a problem, especially if you are growing from seed and your growing medium is friable. For those unaware, it is called basal rot because it affects the lower basal plate of the bulb, which then goes on to gradually, over time, destroying the poor scales which make up the bulb. During your growing season often the first signs for an aware tenderer that trouble is brewing down below the ground is a yellowing of the foliage. Please note, this can also indicate with other lilies, that your bulbs might need a lower ph, but that's another article.

A lilium showing signs of yellowing, when dug, shows just how much of the poor bulb is eaten away. In advance instances, the bulb can be completely rotted. Lilies with stem roots may continue growing throughout the summer even with the bulb destroyed; but they will not emerge the following spring; sadly. I would guess that many of the

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