*  Asiatic lilies command a price of at least $3.99 or more per bulb, a $47.88 value!
   *  Oriental lilies command a top price of at least $5.99  up to $15.99 or more per bulb in some stores! 

The bulb stock is from previously harvested  and are commercially grown for the cut flower trade. Since the bulbs have been
grown for one season and the flower including 2/3 rds of the stock harvested, these bulbs are NOT your first quality bulbs 
that you would receive from many catalogue companies.
    They may sleep for a couple of months but will flower the first year.  The flower, though  will not have as many blooms as prepared and vernalized bulbs.
First year  planting may  make the bloom time  late depending on time of  initial planting. Size of bloom will be any where
from 1-3 buds, subsequent years the bloom count will rise. If you have 'blind' shoots do not worry they are re charging for next year. If they do not come up the first year or are late please be patient. 
I have 4 year bulbs in the gardens that have 20-40 blooms.  You should see my 17 year old bulbs!

Hope to link to my photo page soon. 
I have won awards for my specimens and arrangements that include my lilies..In one or two growing seasons 
you may also have  the wonderful lilies I do.

What is Vernalization?
Vernalization is the cold preparation a bulb (and most temperate plants)  goes through to ensure a good  bud is 'set' 
within the bulb. To make sure it will flower after the right temperature , water and seasonal light requirements are met.
Not all the bulb stock has been vernalized. Especially after April, at present the in house stock is given normal winter
conditions for at least two months  at 40-50 F  or lower.
 After April, fridge requirements at the greenhouse are not always available to me. Even though a bulb is not vernalized, 
it will still bloom. Albeit later in the season and have anywhere from 1-3 blooms. In following years after normal and natural cold spells your lilies will be spectacular!
These lilies will provide exciting colour and offer fragrance to any

Grows in zones 3-9  Full sun to partial shade.
Normal bloom time :

Asiatic's are June through July ~ Orientals are from July to August and sometimes into Sept. Depending on the  month you first plant the bulbs your  first year planting bloom time may be later then stated. Asiatics take 2.5 months from planting to bloom time and Orientals take 3 months from planting to bloom.

I have Gift Certificates  in any amount you would wish to give in multiples  $10 dollars. No Tax!! 

I would  send the certificate in the mail at no cost with a card to either the purchaser or the giftee. Of course with instructions. 
The certificates would be valid a year from the date purchased.

Through trial and error from previous customers, my boyfriend and my own yards I believe I have an answer.

First I will list what some people have tried. Remember also lilies do not like wet feet. Planted in raised beds , on hills or if lots of drainage materials in your lily  bed ,are best. 
All mulches should be at least 3 inches or weeds will sprout and may take over.

Newspaper :  Yes newspaper will work well if it is 3 inches thick and you have your lily bed not in a depression where water can collect.  It can look a site with the vegetable ink bleeding after getting wet... it rots to... hides slugs and bugs
 and may prevent small bulblets from emerging
it is inexpensive, Gives  minimal nutrients to soil. Good as a grass killer if needing to make a new garden. Will rot the grass right to the soil.

Plastic: Not a good idea , holds heat and water and rodents like to live under it as well as nasty bugs.  Good for veggie garden around heat loving plants. For one season
Black plastic laid out and weighted... cut X's in where you will plant tomatoes , peppers, okra and hot condition plants. Also good for killing grass for new gardens.

Marble chips :  Nice  effect but expensive. Bugs can hide out in cracks but it is the ants that would love the nooks and crannies , it would be filled in in one season.  Heavy to dig or move and could prevent bulblets to emerge. Barely gives anything proper to the soil.  Good for scree slides (alpine or rock garden- or around certain trees and shrubs ) Good for walk ways.

Landscape cloth:   Mid price range can be tricky to cut to shape of the lily bed.
 you need to weight it down  so it will not blow away...putting soil on it is just defeating the purpose. Will stop bulblets from emerging. Gives nothing to the soil.  Good for walkways  or under other mulches.

Sawdust:  Fresh sawdust is not good for any flower bed as it robs nitrogen from the soil.  It might look good but that is for one season. May kill your plants if not adding a high nitrogen fertilizer...problem is most people over dose on the nitrogen and all they get are leaves and greenery... no flowers. May burn shoots of bulblets emerging.
Not good for the average gardener . Can be pricy to buy or move .Good for xeroscaping type  plants.
 

Natural Bark mulches:  Might look good but again if fresh may rob nitrogen from soil.  Can be heavy to move and can be expensive to purchase. Slugs and bugs like, especially ants due to the mulch will save water and may prevent drainage.  Need to re apply every one to two years to keep in shape. Also need to add some higher nitrogen fertilizer. Easier for bulblets to emerge if ant farm not preset. Can also be a haven for small rodents , especially in winter. They might move in and chow down on the bulbs. Better for regular perennial gardens

Red Cedar mulch :  Can be pricy to buy, but looks great.... same thing as the natural bark mulch  if bark like...if the shredded variety it is much better for weed suppression... but will keep more water at the soil level and may rot out bulbs especially if in a depression.
Red dye on the cedar can cause some problems in the soil and may repel certain bugs but still to hard on the bulb. Better for regular perennial gardens

 Coconut mats: Very pricy, will hold water well and may rot out bulb again slugs and bugs like. It does well as a soil additive if shredded ( I have lots in my soil and it loosens it well- better then peat moss )  , and nutrients do leach into the soil slowly as it decomposes very slowly. Better for large trees. Bulblets will not emerge.

Peat Moss... not a good idea, expensive and when dry will blow away ,higher acid when leached out (lower ph)  may add as it will hold water but you don't want it to hold too much water or bulb will rot. Leaves may be yellow when growing as need nitrogen and phosphorus.

other then leaving the soil bare and just weeding like I usually do...
the best thing to use as a mulch I have found is ....

Pine Needles
For oriental lilies they have the best ph when they break down. Not too bad for Asiatics but perfect for the Orientals.
Three inch layer to make the mulch work properly.  Allows water to filter down and only holds enough water to keep soil cool and damp not wet ( unless in a depression)  Only a few bugs like to be under it ...in winter though may draw some small rodents to live in.   Can be pretty  as a  mulch. Cost is small if you have or friends have  pine trees around..Takes a few years for them to break down. Will allow bulblets to emerge.

If you are in the province of Nova Scotia and have a garden related event you would like
me to attend  for the 2010 year
I am booking now as my calendar is starting to fill up. Garden conventions, expos and 
community events as well as flower shows are already booking. 
This allows me to tell work ahead of time so I can book the time off.
Be different and have a lily show and bulb sale for the spring .

Have some fund -raising to do ???
Now is the time to book in bulk.

As always if coming to my home please phone to make sure I am home.

Both varities may not be present in each set.
Mounds multiply fast great for naturalizing.