“People are drawn to lilies because they are tough, hardy, relatively disease- and pest-free, and they multiply,” says Barbara Ronningen, North Star Lily Society (NSLS) member and convention chair. “They really stick with you. I have a clump of lilies I bought in 1984 still. Plus, they are beautiful.” Founded for educational and scientific purposes,…

There are nine classes of lilies, according to the North American Lily Society, and all of them are lovely. But, for northern gardeners, the two most commonly planted classes are the Asiatic and Oriental lilies — both of which are great plants for northern gardens. Both types perform well in the garden, if given full…

When is the best time to plant summer bulbs? While some horticulturists say you can plant them in September, most gardeners plant them in early spring. Plant bulbs as soon as the ground can be worked. Given how delicate bulb flowers look, you may think they need a lot of babying. Nope. Summer bulbs, such…