LILIES - RHS Lily Group

Derek B. Fox 1926 – 2007
Roy Carter writes in tribute to one of the outstanding lily breeders
of last century, Editor of the Bulletin (1981 & 1982) and key member
for many years of the Lily Committee.
EREK WAS BORN in Thorpe Bay, Essex in April 1926 and at an early age showed
Da
keen interest in nature, an interest which was to remain with him all
his life. In 1957 Derek and his wife Elizabeth (Betty), purchased a one acre
overgrown plot on the edge of Hockley Woods just a few miles from where he
was born. Here Derek and Betty created a woodland garden which, over the
years came to be enjoyed by their many visitors. Being an acid soil the first
choice of plants were those of the Ericaceae and he assembled collections of
camellia, magnolia and rhododendron species and hybrids which, together with
many exotic trees formed the structure which was to become home of the many
plants of the Liliaceae family he grew.
Derek was particularly successful, despite the low Essex rainfall, in growing
some of the large leaved rhododendrons such as Rhododendron eximeum, R.
macabeanum and R. grande. Over the years he made many rhododendron and
camellia crosses, the result of one such camellia cross being named ‘Betty Fox’
after his wife.
However, Derek’s main love were his lilies. In the early to mid 1960s he began
a hybridising programme using lily species found growing on the west coast of
the United States of America resulting in the creation of the Bullwood Hybrids.
His many creations such as ‘Lake Tulare’, ‘Lake Tahoe’ and ‘Coachella’ to name
but a few, are still prized and sought after today, although rare in cultivation.
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