How to Protect Lilies From Pests?

 

 You'd probably say that the pests need to be exterminated. But these pests, especially the lily beetle, are quite cunning. They try to nibble on young lily buds when the gardener isn't looking or is busy with other plants.

 

I usually inspect lily buds during the day and see new ones appearing. If I don't treat them immediately, the beetle will inevitably find them and eat them from the inside. Within a day or two, the buds will turn yellow and fall off. Then, it's possible that several beautiful lilies won't bloom.

 

 

 

This bright red beetle lays pink eggs on lilies, which can deprive the plant of almost all its buds. Its bright color and impressive size (6-8 mm long) make it stand out against the green foliage. Red beetles on lilies are quite common.  

 

 

 

The lily beetle may look beautiful with its scarlet coloring, but it is a very dangerous pest. If this insect is detected, immediate control measures are necessary. It has powerful jaws. Its diet includes not only leaves but also buds, flowers, and even lily stems. 

 

 

 

 

 

To control lily beetles, I use an organic product: dolomite flour, a natural remedy. Dolomite is a naturally occurring mineral found in nature as a sedimentary rock. Dolomite is composed of oxygen, calcium, and carbon and is found throughout the world. Chemicals can be harmful to bees and other beneficial insects, as well as pets.

 

All the best!

 

Photos of lilies from my garden in 2025. Photos of beetle pests from the internet. 

The Garden in May

 

 

The weather has been strange: sunny, then cold, then strong winds, then torrential rains. The plants in the garden responded immediately to the sun, and vibrant flowers began to appear in various places. The primroses were the first to bloom. These easy-to-grow flowers always bloom first.

I'm pleased with the condition of the rhododendrons. My mature rhododendron bushes survived the winter well. I'm showing you the "Daughter of the North" variety, bred in Finland. Several young bushes overwintered poorly due to the constant temperature fluctuations between frosts and thaws.

 

 

 

 

A cascade of white flowers has formed in the front garden. The cherry tree is in full bloom, and beneath it the Spiraea cinerea Grefsheim is blooming with long white clusters. The apple tree, which produces small, sweet red apples, is also in full bloom.

 

 

The wood anemones turned out to be remarkably resilient. I didn't expect them to bloom in the spring. They have lovely, delicate blue flowers, and I hope I can keep them in the garden for the future.

 

 

 The Juniperus horizontalis 'Glauca' has begun to grow vigorously and is getting large and beautiful year after year. Three years ago, it started shedding its needles and turned brown, but now it's healthy.

 

 

Tulips and daffodils are blooming late, probably because of the cold nights. They'll open their buds soon.

 

In a week, I'll feed all the plants with a potassium-rich fertilizer. The garden requires constant care.

I wish you a wonderful summer!

 

 

P.S. Dear blogger friends, I always read your posts with pleasure and interest. I'm glad that people from different countries also read my posts. But! There may be a situation where I won't be able to access your blog because the internet will be completely down. I'm very upset about this, of course. As soon as the internet is back up, I'll definitely read your posts. Sorry. 

I Bought Dahlias At the Garden Center

A time has arrived when many gardeners visit garden centers to buy new plants. Garden centers are a place where you can exchange opinions and experiences, talk to interesting people, and finally choose and buy a plant. I really love going to the garden center.

 

 

I must say, I grow dahlias every year, but over the years they become smaller and less beautiful. They say this is a characteristic of dahlias, that the roots gradually lose their ability to produce large flowers.

Growing dahlias is not difficult, but storing them over winter until spring is more difficult. I've tried storing them in wax, dry peat, and moss. In the spring, I have no confidence that last year's dahlias survived, and I usually prefer to buy something new for the garden. 

I especially like pom-pom dahlias. They have such beautiful, dense blooms on long stems. I also like them cut, arranged in a vase. The round, dense flowers match well with delphiniums and cosmos. 

 

As a result of my visit to the garden center, I bought several pom-pon dahlia roots in different colors. I will grow them in a pot before planting in the garden in June.

 

Do you love dahlias and how do you store them before planting them in the garden? Perhaps you'd prefer to buy already blooming dahlias at a garden center?

 P.S. All photos of dahlias in this post were taken by me at the Munich Botanical Garden.