Northern & Central Midwest
August, 2006
Regional Report
Web Finds
The University of Illinois Bulb Site
Bulbs and More is a University of Illinois Urban Extension site that tells all about bulbs, including history, planting, selection, indoor growing, landscape design with bulbs, and a wealth of links to other bulb sites. It's a great resource that's geared toward the Midwest.
Favorite or New Plant
Surprise Lily
Lycoris squamigera is an old fashioned fall-blooming bulb that has the colorful names of surprise lily, naked lady, and magic lily. They get these names by their habit of sending up lush green foliage in the spring, which then dies and disappears. In late summer, from bare ground, a 2- to 3-foot-tall flower stalk arises, which is topped with silvery pink trumpets that are delicately scented. Plant surprise lily bulbs in well-drained organic soil in a partially shaded spot where they will not be disturbed. They may not bloom the first year, but once they establish themselves, they will bloom for years.
