Oriental Lilies - Black Beauty

For any of you wanting a beautiful pink lily - this one comes very highly recommended. The plant is tall and sturdy, and the flowers last for months. I love the foliage as it is growing over summer, then the dying leaves glow yellow into late autumn - adding a great colour highlight to the garden. I cannot recommend it highly enough - I love it. And that is coming from someone who does not like pink!!

Lilium Black  Beauty - Oriental Lily

Really sturdy plants, that withstand wind.

Autumn colours - the leaves glow amongst evergreen foliage

And below are some of the plants I have partnered with the Lily - more burgundy than pink for me

Echinacea purpureum and Allium

Scabiosa Crimson Clouds

Dahlia

Eupatorium maculatum

This lily is being advertised in at least one NZ bulb catalogue right now - (Garden Post). Not sure if you can buy it in shops. Get some!!

Fothergilla and Salvia 'Ember's Wish'

This sight greets me each morning as I arrive at my office. The early morning sun just glows on the leaves of the Fothergilla, and the Salvia next to it is a perfect match. The trees above are Acer Bloodgood. I did a post on Fothergilla many years ago, and it is still difficult to source the plants. Well worth it if you can get hold of some. They hold their autumn colour for months, then have lovely flowers in spring.

The view from my computer. 

Colour in Early May

Along with the huge big deciduous trees, I seem to have a lot of colour happening nearer the ground which is great - extends the seasonal interest to more than just big trees.

Camellia Yuletide - flowers early, and for months

Pomegranate - these look incredible at the moment, with the brightest yellow deciduous leaves. 

Good old citrus just keep on giving. Colour, fruit, and especially fragrance

Big old Pin Oak - the leaves are fantastic as mulch

The last of the dahlias - until we get the first autumn frost....

Chrysanthemums take over the colour when the dahlias expire. Can get quite sprawling, so nip tips out two-three times during spring and summer to make plant bushy. You get more flowers, too - and later. 

Camellias are so valuable in the garden - foliage and flowers. 

These Lilies have been sensational - and now the foliage glows as if the sun is shining just on them. Great value.