LILIES - RHS Lily Group
LILIES - RHS Lily Group
LILIES - RHS Lily Group
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Derek B. Fox 1926 – 2007<br />
Roy Carter writes in tribute to one of the outstanding lily breeders<br />
of last century, Editor of the Bulletin (1981 & 1982) and key member<br />
for many years of the <strong>Lily</strong> Committee.<br />
EREK WAS BORN in Thorpe Bay, Essex in April 1926 and at an early age showed<br />
Da<br />
keen interest in nature, an interest which was to remain with him all<br />
his life. In 1957 Derek and his wife Elizabeth (Betty), purchased a one acre<br />
overgrown plot on the edge of Hockley Woods just a few miles from where he<br />
was born. Here Derek and Betty created a woodland garden which, over the<br />
years came to be enjoyed by their many visitors. Being an acid soil the first<br />
choice of plants were those of the Ericaceae and he assembled collections of<br />
camellia, magnolia and rhododendron species and hybrids which, together with<br />
many exotic trees formed the structure which was to become home of the many<br />
plants of the Liliaceae family he grew.<br />
Derek was particularly successful, despite the low Essex rainfall, in growing<br />
some of the large leaved rhododendrons such as Rhododendron eximeum, R.<br />
macabeanum and R. grande. Over the years he made many rhododendron and<br />
camellia crosses, the result of one such camellia cross being named ‘Betty Fox’<br />
after his wife.<br />
However, Derek’s main love were his lilies. In the early to mid 1960s he began<br />
a hybridising programme using lily species found growing on the west coast of<br />
the United States of America resulting in the creation of the Bullwood Hybrids.<br />
His many creations such as ‘Lake Tulare’, ‘Lake Tahoe’ and ‘Coachella’ to name<br />
but a few, are still prized and sought after today, although rare in cultivation.<br />
15