Over the Fourth of July weekend, 2003, while visiting the nursery I found this specimen and decided on the spot to add it to the garden; the fragrance is delicious (unlike the unscented Asiatic lilies) and the bloom is both large and exquisite. It's an oriental lily called Mona Lisa.

The oriental lily, Mona Lisa, which I planted last year has bloomed in mid-June 2004 and is putting forth its exquisite sweet fragrance.

The oriental lily, Mona Lisa, has now also begun to bloom in mid-June 2005 .  The fragrance is exquisite!

It's mid-June 2006 and judging by what I can see, the oriental lily Mona Lisa is going to put on quite a show this year!

It's 18 June and the oriental lily Mona Lisa has opened the first of its magnificent blooms.

It's now 29 June and Mona Lisa continues to open gorgeous blossoms.

It's the first day of summer, 2007, and Mona Lisa has bloomed, scenting that corner of the garden with its sweet fragrance.

Just after Memorial Day 2008, this is what Mona Lisa looks like.  I think it will bloom earlier this year than last!

I actually managed to catch the first bud just starting to open.

Of course, just one day later ....

I just wish the blossoms didn't all point down toward the ground!

In late June to early July 2009, my Mona Lisa oriental lily began to bloom and I got one photo.  One evening however, something visited the garden and ate all of the remaining buds, as well as those on the other lilies and daylilies!  I am not at all happy!

Last year's varmint was no doubt a deer, as was this years.  I was able to protect the lilies, but sad to say Mona Lisa only put up two shoots with one bud each, and I'm afraid that after last year's damage, this may be its last year.  I had to stake the stalks with bamboo just to keep them upright.

Once the blossoms shown above faded, so did the stalks and I figured that Mona Lisa would not be back next year.  While visiting the nursery, they had a lovely Stargazer oriental lily, so I got that to replace Mona Lisa.  When I dug it up, the corms were quite shrunken and shriveled and I knew that I was right to replace it.  Here's the Stargazer just after planting.

A few days later, the first bud has begun to open.

And a day later, the first Stargazer bloom!  It's as deliciously fragrant as Mona Lisa was.

Followed by more!

Stargazer appears to like the heat -- today, 6 July, it was 104 degrees out there and this was waiting to greet me!

While planting new Asiatic lilies in the side yard garden, I went ahead and got a new Oriental lily as well.  Here it is just after planting.  It's called "Sunny After Eight".

Here's the first bloom on the new one.  It's similar to the Stargazer but different, and is very fragrant!

Must be a heat lover -- 104 degrees outside and doing fine!

It's mid-April 2011 and the Stargazer oriental lily has stuck its head out of the ground.

9 July has brought the first blooms on both oriental lilies.  First, Stargazer, which now stands close to four feet tall!

A close-up of the stamens, loaded with pollen.

And another close-up showing the bristles on the inside of the petals.

Full bloom in mid-July.

Sunny After Eight did very well this year too.

Last Updated: 03 Mar 2023

All of the text contained within this page and all of the photographs and videos taken by ToyTrains1 are copyright (c) 2000 - 2023 by ToyTrains1, and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of ToyTrains1.

If you wish to use any of my content, please see my detailed copyright statement for terms and conditions of use.