One of my husband's favorite expressions is "gilding the lily," so much so that it has become something of a joke in our family. To gild the lily, of course, is to add something to an item that is already perfect. Did you know the expression arises from a misquotation of a Shakespeare play?
I really kind of like the original expression -- "to paint the lily" -- but there's no going against all these years of misquotation.
The lilies in our yard this summer need neither gilding nor painting. While maybe not perfect, many of our lilies are in glorious bloom right now. There is always a period when the Asiatics and the daylilies are in bloom at the same time, a time of vibrant color in our garden.
I love lilies; they are so carefree. The only problem I have with them is that almost all of my Asiatic lilies must be staked. My yellow trumpets and pale peach lilies, for example, are giants, reaching four to five feet tall. Even the shorter ones need to be staked though, as the weight of the blossoms will cause them to topple. The only other work is entirely self-induced. I deadhead my daylilies every single day. Am I the only one crazy enough to do this? I have old-fashioned varieties, so it does not encourage further blooming. I just don't like the sight of the wilting blossoms.
I thought I would share with you some of the lilies in our yard. If I showed one of each variety, this post would be much too long. This is less than half of the lily varieties we have. (What can I say? I'm a nut for lilies.) I wish I could tell you the names, but I have no idea. Many of them were hand-me-downs.
Linking to:
Bunny Jean's Decor and More Bunny Hop Party
Therefore, to be possessed with double pomp,
To guard a title that was rich before,
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
-- Salisbury in The Life and Death of King John, IV ii
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| double orange daylily |
The lilies in our yard this summer need neither gilding nor painting. While maybe not perfect, many of our lilies are in glorious bloom right now. There is always a period when the Asiatics and the daylilies are in bloom at the same time, a time of vibrant color in our garden.
I love lilies; they are so carefree. The only problem I have with them is that almost all of my Asiatic lilies must be staked. My yellow trumpets and pale peach lilies, for example, are giants, reaching four to five feet tall. Even the shorter ones need to be staked though, as the weight of the blossoms will cause them to topple. The only other work is entirely self-induced. I deadhead my daylilies every single day. Am I the only one crazy enough to do this? I have old-fashioned varieties, so it does not encourage further blooming. I just don't like the sight of the wilting blossoms.
I thought I would share with you some of the lilies in our yard. If I showed one of each variety, this post would be much too long. This is less than half of the lily varieties we have. (What can I say? I'm a nut for lilies.) I wish I could tell you the names, but I have no idea. Many of them were hand-me-downs.
Linking to:
Bunny Jean's Decor and More Bunny Hop Party
BEAUTIFUL!!! Casablanca lilies are my absolute favorites! They are the HUGE white ones and the fragrance is almost overwhelming. My Hubby grew them for me once and they were also very tall and top heavy. So, so pretty though.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Your lilies are truly beautiful! I love the spotty one! What a display they must make in your yard! Maggie xx
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard that saying before but now if I hear anyone say it I can explain where it comes from.
Thanks!
Very Beautiful. Your flowers look lovely. Love the brightness of those lilies.
ReplyDeletebeautiful indeed, how lovely to have them all around your garden!
ReplyDeleteI did not know that about the misquoted quote. I learned something new. Your lilies are gorgeous! I would love to spend time in your garden.
ReplyDeleteI have the double orange ones too and they are soooo pretty! I take the dead blooms off almost daily too! They are so unsightly if left on! The yellow/orange one with the dots is pretty too wish I had some of those!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful Posy. What a lot of beautiful colour you have in your garden right now. I didn't know that quote was from Shakespeare. What a great mind! xx
ReplyDeleteWow! Your flowers are gorgeous, the color amazing! I've heard that quote on and off but never knew it's origination. Always fun to lean something new. That Shakespeare, what a guy!
ReplyDeleteRebecca
Thank you for posting the excert from Shakespeare - and how true! Your lilies are beautiful! I wish I had a yard to have bunches of flowers and a little garden too - I have found lilies do pretty well in pots though!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous! Wow...i'm so jealous- if only we could have such a garden!! I always tell hubby I hate flowers- so he won't buy me any, but the real truth is that I love them, just not cut- dead & dying!
ReplyDeleteLilies are one of my favorite flowers. Thanks for the insight and beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL!!!
ReplyDeleteDebbi
-yankeeburrowcreations
You have the most gorgeous blooms! I always thought lilies were so beautiful. Remember those day lilies I mentioned earlier that I had been given a couple of years ago? Well, I plopped one plant in the back yard because it was too big to separate and not enough space where I had the others. It never bloomed or did much of anything, and today, after about 2 or 3 years, it has bloomed. A pure miracle! Now I look at yours and continue to have hope for mine. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. They made me smile, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI've got seriously mixed emotions about Lillys - beautiful when in bloom, otherwise only ok. So hard to get rid of as well...have been trying since we inherited this house. Your pics remind me of how beautiful they can be. Thanks for sharing, liz
ReplyDeleteI have day lilies and they really struggle. They are beautiful for about a week and then they sort of shrivel up and turn brown. Yours are gorgeous and I love all the different colors. Sometimes hand-me-downs are the best!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard this expression and I'm wondering why not! Your lilies definitely don't need to be guilded or painted. They are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour lilies are gorgeous. I wish I had more space for more than the one that I have. They are really beautiful around here, though, so I enjoy driving around and looking at other people's yards.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog! Your lily photos are lovely. It's the first time I've heard of that expression "gilding the lily."
ReplyDeletebeautiful! I love lilies too. They're all so different, there's gotta be one you'll love!
ReplyDelete