"In the Works"

One of the most common questions we hear is “what’s new” followed by “what’s your favorite”? Our “favorites” are the lilies we grow, if we do not like it, we simply do not grow it. It is usually the new introductions that are thought of first when asked about favorites, but the 50 year garden veterans rate just as high in our hearts. For example, ‘Gold Eagle’, that was introduced in 1957 by Leslie Woodriff, still rates as one of the finest Aurelian types ever developed. Though some of the new golden yellow Orienpets are finding favor over ‘Gold Eagle’, in popularity, it is a variety that we will always have in our gardens and as such will continue to be a “favorite”.

Our lilies go through extensive trials not only on our own farm, but in a few select customers gardens as well. They are tested for fading in the hot eastern California sun, for winter tolerance in Wisconsin, and for hot, humid, Louisiana weather not to mention for fungus resistance here in our cold and damp Pacific Northwest.

The following photos show some of the varieties both in trials and in full propagation. Typically from seed to market, 8 to 10 years is common. Many of the varieties shown here are in their 2nd or 3rd. scaling with some slated for possible 2010 introduction and others as far off as 2015 to 2018. As varieties are name, those names and introduction dates will be noted here. Watch your "favorites" as they progress through trials. Don't feel bad if you check up on one you have been watching and it is gone. It means it was not worthy of your garden. Along with these, there are several hundred more recent selections that over the years will be pared down to less than a dozen – the best of the best. These 70 plus “In the Works” are the final selections made from virtually thousands of seedlings. We hope you enjoy this little glimpse of the future. As time permits, more selections will be added. Just this past year alone (2008) over 2 gigabytes of digital photos were taken of “potential” winners alone. It can be heartbreaking to have watched a “favorite” for 5 or 6 years to then see it start to decline and end up as food for farm animals, but the feelings of satisfaction when a new “favorite” is finally planted in your garden is great.

The first 36 or so examples are all from the breeding work of our friend Johan Mak in Oregon. Johan has spent his life working with lilies and we carry a number of his creations in our catalogs. The most gifted hybridizer of Lilies in the US and very likely in Holland as well, he is also a very knowledgeable speaker on the subject, who no matter how busy he may be is always willing to take time to answer questions and share his knowledge. Even companies in Holland send representatives to view the fruits of his labor.

Where many breeders unfortunately rush to introduce new varieties, Johan is a perfectionist which is very evident in his work. We always look forward to numerous visits with Johan, his wife Rhea, and his tens-of-thousands of new and wondrous seedlings every summer. Those that have grown 'My Precious', 'Indian Summer', 'Ortega', 'Madame Butterfly', and 'Tropical Breeze' just to name a few have already experienced the breeding genus of this man. We feel privileged to be counted among those that have free access to his breeding house and an inexhaustible supply of white flagging tape with blue dots (the B & D Lilies selection color code) each year.

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