LILIES - RHS Lily Group

Above left, ‘Descant’, Top right, ‘Karen North’, Above right, ‘Theseus’.
Crops Research Institute (GCRI), where they had been cleaned up by arrangement
with SCRI. GCRI had a mix-up in testing and supplied bulbs of ‘Hannah’ that
turned out to be ‘Rosemary’ so I have nine of the ten North Ladies. I had hoped
to have tested stocks of the Greek series too, but these had been released to other
propagators and I do not know their fate in health terms. My own stocks of
these are therefore open ground bulbs.
For the past 19 years I have maintained the tested stocks in an aphid-protected
glasshouse. When I ceased trading I gave bulbs from this material to Bruce
Robertson who had been assisting me and then started his own nursery. This
operation folded a year or two later and there were a few years when I could not
find someone to take on the stocks commercially under aphid protection.
I was very glad to be able to persuade the Border Belles’ nursery to do the
job, particularly since they had a background in plant health. Chris came down
with me to see their premises and generously offered to assist with the provision
of an aphid-proof house, while I donated the stocks. After the cessation of the
partnership I do not know whether the stocks are still under protection.
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