Hey Jean, Are your lilies named Dolly Madison? I have some with black stems that look just like yours. The first year they were about 2 feet tall. This year they are at least 4 feet! They are just about ready to start blooming.
Kathy

A few more pictures.

Lots of scapes popping up now.

More red Lilies in a different place again.

and Ms Blackie follows my every step when I am outside.

and my last one today is a mini rose bush my oldest daughter had sent to me from California.She lives in N.C. and I am amazed it traveled that far in a box and not a leaf missing or a yellow leaf fro m being in that box.

Jean

You have wonderful daughters! The pink rose is so pretty and I think it would compliment the color on the lillies very nicely.
Vickie

Your hydrangeas are doing really well potted, aren't they? Your lilies are really pretty. A very pretty rose. I do have a couple of mini roses, apparently they don't have enough scent to attract the Japanese beetles. Your rose is really pretty. You have some very thoughtful daughters.
Did you have the flash on? Ms Blackie had to shut her eyes :) Or maybe she is just contented with her lot in life.

The Red Lilies Jean has pictured are RED ALERT. They are an asiatic hybred that is known for its color and upward facing flowers. Very pretty Jean, and all the clumps look great. People, I have them too and mine are all in a row and no were near ready to bloom yet.

Your little mini rose is very lovely and so are your hydrangeas. Miss Blackie looks happy to be out in the garden. And last but not least, look at all those scapes.

Kathy; No, The Red Lilies are "Red Alert"

Vickie:I agree with you,that I have wonderful daughters. 3 of them.

Nancy: No I do not use a flash outside at all.Ms Blackie had her eyes squinted half shut, because the sun was very bright,and she had just walked out of bright sun into the shade.She dont act like the same cat that came here about 7 yrs ago.She was so wild and skinny,I could not get closer then 15 feet from her.She is still on the skinny side,even tho she eats good,she never puts much weight on. and yes, she really is content.She seems happiest when she can be near me and just looks me right in the eye and purrs very loud.

Thank you Rita, I do love these Red lilies. I will have to bring this Pink rose outside and give it some sunshine,as it wont live long inside,and as it grows I will pot it in a bigger pot. I planted Hydrangeas in the ground years ago here and none of them lived,so wasnt going to take a chance with these two and put them in big pots.Well,the one is planted in a large plastic tub as you can see,and I just drilled a bunch of holes in the bottom for drainage.Besides these tubs was selling for $ 4,00 each at the time,and the big pots was $ 20.00.I plant tomatoe plants in these big tubs too each year and those tubs are now 10 yrs old,sitting in the sun all day, so they do last a long time, too.
Them scapes are beautiful to me right now.Its hard to wait to see a bloom.

Jean

Very, very, nice!

I never knew you could grow hydrangeas in pots!! What a great idea, your red lilies are wonderful, I have just the very beginning of very tiny buds on some of my asiatic lilies. Ms. Blackie is a lucky kitty, and very pretty too!!
And you are right scapes are beautiful, and yours look great!
cindy

Jean, the liles are so pretty in a clump but the rose is my favorite because it came from a thoughtful daughter.. Also the hydranga is nice and looks good in the pots. You have lots of scapes..can't wait for blooms here! Ellie

Cindy:Thank you for your very nice comments.Yes, you can grow almost anything in a pot as long as the pot is big enough and you keep it watered.,If the plants get too big,I might have to pull them out of the pots and prune the roots back some, then repot it with fresh poyying soil.The soil here is hard clay.My front yard that is partially fenced has so much different amendments in it, till its a little better then the rest of the yard,and I have very limitied shade,is another reson for mr potting my Hydrangea s.I did not want to take a chance of losing them, since my daughter srnt them to me as Mother's day gifts.

Ellie> Thank you for the nice comments.

Jean

Everything is looking so pretty Jean,

I love the little rose, and thse are my first lilies too. Well, I have the reds and some oranges blooming in that bed. Love them! That's a great picture of them.

Your kitty is a sweetie. White cat follows me around in the garden, and I like having her threre.
kay

Thank You Kay, I forgot to mention in my previous post where I posted pictures of the sonar Lighted Butterflys my youngest daughter gave me for mothers day, but she also brought me a BIG pot of Hydrangea.It has a couple lt Lavender blooms and a blue and a pink in it,so I will be hunting for another BIG pot for it too. The 3rd daughter gave me money to get what I wanted,and I might have to spend it fora have to,instead of what I would like.

Jean