Calla Lilly

[fred]

here is a pic of one of our calla lillies in flower at the moment.

[Tobi]

Fred, that is gorgeous!!

[Debbie Hayden]

Beautiful color! I planted some of those last spring. They're an orange color. I'm not sure they survived the drought, though. We'll see.

[BillC]

Lovely Fred, such a pleasing shape and colour. I shall have to make room for a bed if I can get hold of some bulbs locally.

Bill

[fred]

I was also lucky enough when I was over at my mothers house I brought home about 30 more of these pinks, apricots, dark reds and mauves
all the ones I have in my garden came from my mothers house as my Father grew them as well.
sadly my mother can not look after the garden anymore.

[patticake]

How beautiful! I love calla lillies. It's sad that your mother can't tend to the flowers anymore, but how lucky she is to have you to take them!

[fred]

Yeah it is sad my mum can not do that anymore but she is 82
she wanted me to take them as my brother has no interest in flowers at all.
I love the idea of keeping my Fathers love alive and in me that is in good hands as he is the one that taught me all I know
you can also see that with the Hippiastrems and Cacti I have here on the forum each one of them my Father grew.

[evagentry]

nice colors in the callas Fred, I understnd what you mean about keeping your fathers love alive, my father also loved gardening, many times when I am out digging or taking care of things in one of my gardens I think of him.

[patticake]

That's really nice...I lost some sentimental plants that were my grandmothers, when my house froze last year. I was crushed, since I had been growing them for 20 years. I still have some of her perennials that I brought with me to my new place. I'll know in the spring if they made the transition o.k.- Best of luck with your beautiful calla lillies! We grow them here, but have to dig the bulbs in fall and replant in spring. Our winters get pretty cold here. Z-4 sometimes 3

[Debbie Hayden]

Fred, I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. You must have had very loving parents. My Father died 25 yrs ago,and I still grieve for him sometimes. He wasn't a flower gardener, but he always had a vegetable garden. I hope you have someone to pass your Fathers plants along to.

[snowballsarebad]

Fred, that is very pretty! I love the hot pink color.
I am wondering though...do you have any tips for growing calla lillies? How do you grow yours? I have a pot of them that are just sprouting up (I got them last summer as a present, in bloom, a deepest purple color). They look all gangly and weak, though. I think they are not supposed to dry out, so I am being careful with that. Any ideas why they might seem weak? I've got them on the bench with my orchids in a shadier spot.

[fred]

I apologize for not answering this sooner I got the flu while I was over seeing my mother
so i am not feeling very well.

the calla lillies I brought back with me I have put into pots with a good potting mix for house plants.
I put each bulb in a four inch pot
I 3/4 filled the pot with the mix placed the bulb in and gently pushed the bulb down so it sits firm then toped the pot up with some more potting mix.
to about an inch from the top of the pot.
I have them placed in my side hot house.

the ones in our garden are in full sun the get a good watering late afternoon with the warm weather.
I give them fertilizer twice a year with Dynamic Lifter pellets ( chook poo ) and also Osmacote.
the ones I have do not dry out at all if they are gangly that means that could be getting to much shade also it could be a lack of fertilizer.


Debbie
you are right
my dad passed away almost 4 years ago now
I am glad that I can grow all these for him dad was a very good teacher
this may sound silly to some people but when I work with the garden and flowers I feel my Father with me.
sadly I don't have anyone to pass on my knowledge with that is why I am on this forum
no one in my family is interested in gardening like orchids,hippieastrums, cacti and calla lillies.
but thats life

[Debbie Hayden]

Fred, I'm going to plant a pot of Callas in your Dad's memory. When they bloom, I'l put them on the alter at my Church.

[fred]

thank you Debbie that is very sweet of you to do that

[snowballsarebad]

Thanks Fred! I think you might be right, I guess they might not be gettin genough sun. I keep them shady now because last summer, they got a little sunburned.
Hope you're feeling better!

[tizzycat]

Fred the forum just wouldn't be the same without you, all your help is greatly appreciated.

I know I keep on saying it, but your Dad sure did a good job on you.

[fred]

snowballsarebad & tizzycat sorry I have not got back to this thread till now
thank you for your kind words

here is another pic of the flowering

[flowerchild]

Fred you truly are a remarkable man, your Dad is smiling down on you from up in Heaven, knowing that you are following in his footsteps and keeping his love of flowers and gardening alive!!! I always tell my mom that she did for me all these years and turnabout is fairplay(my 72 yr old mom just had major back surgery in Nov. and I go and do alot of her cleaning and stuff for Her). God Bless you Fred you are a truly remarkable man!!!! We all love you here on orchid geeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cindy aka flowerchild

[fred]

thank you Cindy
what makes me remarkable is I am Proud of what my Father had Taught me.
my mother has said the same thing to me a few weeks ago.
Dad was a great man he still is to be honest

I hope your mother pulls through
It is also a gift that you ate there for you mum.