My blackberry lilies have a short season, and it's almost over. They probably won't last until Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, August 15, where I will be showing my readers what is blooming in my yards.
I have several blackberry lily plants. Why are they historic? Because they were purchased at Monticello, the home of one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. We purchased both a plant and seeds at their gift shop when we visited several years ago. These lilies grow, naturalized, on the Monticello property and it is believed they are descendants of plants grown from seed obtained by Jefferson in 1807.
In August, the flowers bloom for a day each. After the flower dies, it twists around on the young seed pod.
In the fall, the seed pods burst, and the seeds look just like clusters of blackberries. I have a small bouquet of the seeds from last year in my home office.
I love these lilies.
Do you have any historic plants?
I am going to leave you all with one last thought. Here's a picture of a hill. History was made on this hill 51 52 years ago next week. (Did I mention that I'm not good at math? It's 52 not 51.) Anyone have a guess what it might be? If you want to learn more about this hill, come back to my blog daily and see what I just might be posting.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for #WordlessWednesday.
...I'll be back for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey always said.
ReplyDeleteWoodstock on that hill? I hadn't heard of that blackberry lily plant; how interesting! No historic plants here I think :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Ding ding ding we have a winner! Yes. Despite the fact that I goofed up my math. It should have been 52 years ago next week. I'll be correcting that.
DeleteI'll be back for the story on that hill too. Have no clue.
ReplyDeleteWe have lots of weeds, but very little else. Beautiful lilies.
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I've never been to Monticello, it's so cool that you have plants from there.
ReplyDeleteA hilltop in 1970...hmmm....
It's 1969 (now corrected in the post)not 1970, and now you'll guess it instantly, Songbird!
DeleteYou've got me very curious....
ReplyDeleteYou have me very curious. I'll be back.
ReplyDeleteI tried to grow blackberry lilies from seed, only to later read you need to start with fresh seed. Or at least not old ordered on the internet seed. They are lovely. No historic plants. I tried to cheat and look up what happened in history 51 years ago, but nothing about a hill!
ReplyDeleteWell, Lisa, I hang my head in shame. Math isn't my strong point! It's 52 years not 51. Now you'll get it. (Or you can read my response to Betty.)
DeleteLisa, also, I think the seed I bought (in late April of 2019) in Monticello was fresh. I bought a pack of seeds and one plant at the gift shop, not online. Previously, I had planted seed from another visit to Monticello (I've been there 3 or 4 times over the years) perhaps in 2016, but those seeds didn't perform as well.
DeleteSo you get a new set of seeds each year? Nice. Sorry they don't last, though.
ReplyDeleteI've had to replant once but these lilies are normally hardy in my zone (5b). These plants and seeds that produced more plants were planted in 2019. My original ones, I think, were 2016.
DeleteI have to come back. But then again I always do!
ReplyDeleteCarol C
And I thank you for that!
DeleteNow I want one!!
ReplyDeleteOooh! A new (to me) plant and a mystery?! I'm totally hooked!
ReplyDeleteWe have some cactus that has been here forever. It's pretty stunning. Love that your plants come from Monticello.
ReplyDelete