The leaves are 3" to 3.5" long and about an inch or slightly over wide. The leaves are not as nice as they should be. They are planted in that mulch stuff and the water runs through. Everything else is planted in a potting mix which stay wetter longer. I think it is staying too dry right now especially since the heat is killing us! Also, Denise, your plants tend to be more succulent. I think we talked about this about another hoya. That's weird why they would do that but I'm no plant expert.

Hi Vickie, Your right, lilies comprise a large genera of possibilities, that's what makes them so interesting. I like to use lilies to go in between other plants, as an added exclamation point in the garden....this helps hide the ripening foliage and reduces the need to stake. As a beginner, you may find the asiatic or LA bulbs the easiest. Usually they are cheaper in price, multiply quickly and the least fussy...although most bulbs are pretty easy....you may even be able to do some trading with others in your area. Lots of times the 'big box stores' sell bulbs pretty cheap, only problem there is you never really know what your getting. Here is some pics of different types. Flora Here is a link that might be useful: Some lily pics

I waited for those with more knowledge on the subject of plant-specific fertilizers to respond. But, instead David has given you the excellent advice of using a good quality compost. Matoad, you may be looking for experience & info on Shultz, Osmocote, or Peters or some other but I don't really have that. Certainly, I can't think how something like bone meal could harm anything. It will break down slowly and improve soil tilth because of that. Despite my organic veggie gardening, I use Miracle-Gro in the flowers every year. I just see it as having a broader benefit than the 16-16-16 which goes in the beds during the Spring. Plants need different nutrients to grow and bloom and not all of those nutrients will be found in your garden soil. Which ones are lacking can only be determined by a soil test. However, mostly your plants need chlorophyll, sunlight, fresh air, and water since most of the plant ends up as carbohydrates arranged in appropriate ways. Certain nutrients can't be ignored and some required in only minute amounts may be lacking. What to do, what to do?? I find organic fertilizers make infinite sense in the veggie garden partly because they have that broad range of nutrients in their plant & animal (rather than just mineral) origins. Now that these organic fertilizers are leaving the $1/pound price range behind, I'm concerned but will continue to go that route. I'll continue buying in bulk and thereby avoid this $2/pound rate that we are heading rapidly towards. Composted manure is the cheapest route to go but good quality has really gone out the window in my area. I would need to supplement manure with fertilizer anyway. I'll continue to use Whitney Farms and forgo the manure except in my own compost pile. The organic fertilizer is for the veggie garden. Most of the compost, however, is for the flower garden. Mostly, that is a result of where the bins are located. Maybe more importantly, is how little compost I can make out of plant wastes, kitchen parings, and a load of cow manure each year. May as well put it ALL in the dahlias, Sweet Wills, and Canterbury bells and not spread it ridiculously thin, hell-to-breakfast. For all the flowers, I'm continuing to use the 16-16-16 followed with 2 or 3 applications of Miracle-gro before blooming. digitS'

Or use a sharp knife blade or single edge razor blade held at 90 degrees to the skin and dragged sideways (not in a slicing motion) parallel to the hair. Sounds scary, but perfectly safe unless you're a klutz... ;-). Repeat several times until the sideways motion pulls it out.