Over the Garden Fence: Conca d'Or lily - classic shape with exotic beauty, fragrance

There is a special lily in my midst. It was planted beside a wisteria shrub that climbs the house and wraps around itself in a density that defies understanding. This lily has grown to over 5 feet despite my covering it with a green plastic grid material. This was not done to stunt its growth, but to keep the deer from devouring its huge buds. Hidden a bit by wisteria and covered with plastic this baby triumphed. It is work to get lilies to maturity since deer consider them a delicacy.

Yesterday buds were present but had grown right through the mesh and were being strangled. They would never open. Scissors rescued several from certain death. Today, to my amazement at least six huge blooms were open. And a fragrance was present. There are more to come.

Conca d'Or is an Orienpet lily, which means it came from a cross between a Chinese trumpet and an Oriental, hence the name classification. The classic trumpet shape united with exotic beauty and fragrance. This lily is huge ? about 8 inches across as its curved petals open wide and flare. White and waxy, its yellow throat stretches outward onto each petal, a lemony yellow that becomes a buttery hue.

There are six elongated anther-tipped stamens. Each flower is strong and long lasting. The flowering period lasts a few weeks. Over the years the flower count on the strong stem increases. Mine displays more than a dozen. In cutting away the plastic mesh a couple were knocked off.

Orienpets are referred to as tree lilies because of their height. If the deer could get to this one they would be snatching off leaves right on into autumn. Not going to happen.

Lily is disease resistant, drought tolerant, liked by butterflies

This beauty is disease resistant. It is drought tolerant even more than its parents. The fragrance is described by companies that carry the bulbs as that of "raspberry and roses" combined. Though that is not what I discern, it is pleasant. It is considered a pollinator plant since butterflies visit it.

Conca d'Or is suggested for mixed perennial beds (that is how it is staged here), or along walks or fences (wish we had those), or a stand-alone plant.

As the effort to thwart deer continues, fencing has shown itself to be the best defense. Out at the back of the property there are four lilies blooming their heads off. One is taller than 6 feet and the way the fence encircles the group, the deer cannot munch. Bet that makes them furious. Fenceposts are here awaiting a strong grandson who can set them in a long narrow set up.

This would not be open or spacious enough for jumping. Sure we have tried pelleted stuff, powder, Irish Spring, movement detection devices that fill the area with lights, a narrow belted strap treated with a smell deer do not like ? even dryer sheets.

Happy with this show stopper, the thing to do is to buy about five more Conca d'Or bulbs and have an overwhelming display. This would not be along a fence but within fencing. Or planting under the wisteria, which is serving as a protector may be a good idea.

Life just continues to be problem-solving, especially with hungry critters.

Mary Lee Minor is a member of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, an accredited master gardener, a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs and a former sixth grade teacher.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Conca d'Or or Orienpet lily blooms in a Bucyrus garden