Lilies

Lilies in July

Consider the lilies…. Don’t plant them near the front of plant borders, the pollen is poisonous to cats. They can shed a lot of pollen which cats can breathe in or it can fall on them and they lick it off when they wash.

But if you can plant them safely they are beautiful and showy. But beware of lily beetles. They are big red shiny beetles that can munch and destroy lilies. I’m afraid they need removing and squashing if you want to save the plants.

White lily

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Another one has flowered, sitting in among the nettles and the convolvulus. There’s monbretia in there too.. What’s its newer name? Crocosmia I think. Its like when Fushias suddenly became Surfinias and Geraniums started being called Pelagoniums to differentiate them from the perennial ones.

I went on a walk on Tuesday and found myself pointing out the names of garden plants to my hubby. I don’t know why. I saw a couple of plants that I didn’t recognise.

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What is this. From a distance I thought it was a fushia?

Keep away from cats!

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Lilies, and particularly their pollen are very dangerous to cats. We have moved ours away from paths in the garden so the cat cannot brush past them. I think it effects their kidneys and can cause serious health issues, possibly including death. We don’t normally grow many as they are usually killed by lily beetles. This year we were lucky? They are still lovely flowers, but I might reconsider planting them next year.