True lilies are Lillium which means they are a herbaceous flowering plant growing from a bulb with large prominent flowers. Today most of the lilies are hybrids and you will see them in nurseries and plant catalogs as Asiatic and Oriental. They come in a wide range of color.
Asiatic are the most hardy of all the lilies and bloom earlier than Oriental. They also reproduce faster. Oriental, however, have more of a fragrance. They can fill the air with their wonderful scent. If you want to extend your bloom time of lilies, plant both kinds.
Daylilies are not a true lily. They are Hemerocallis. They have roots and are not grown from blubs.
Hemerocallis is from two Greek words that mean “beauty” and “day” because the flower of the daylily only lasts one day, but many buds are on a flower stalk so they bloom over a long period of time. It is said that the daylily is the perfect perennial for the garden. It will tolerate different soil and light conditions. Drought tolerant and will survive with very little care. They come in a variety of colors and will bloom from early summer to fall.
Both Asiatic and daylilies will be at the annual Canton Garden Club plant sale on Saturday, May 23, at the Farmer's Market in Canton starting at 8:00 until noon. There will be a wide assortment of plants that the club members have started and potted up.
The Canton Garden Club will also be planting the barrels in town that day. Come out and say high.