Fabulous Lilies and How to Grow Them with Charles Cresson – a Virtual Pop-Up

Lilies (genus Lilium) may be regal aristocrats of the summer garden, but they are not prima donnas because they are easy to grow. Bulb catalogues present a sumptuous array of choices in nearly every color, short and tall, some intensely fragrant, many for sun, others for shade, but which ones are truly good long-lived garden plants? Charles will discuss the easiest to grow species and how to sort through the myriad of lily hybrids. Zoom in to learn how to select, grow and enjoy the best lilies for your own garden and how to combine them with other plants.

Charles Cresson, local garden expert and author, has been growing lilies for decades in his Swarthmore garden, Hedgleigh Spring. He has taught bulbs at Longwood Gardens for over 30 years.

Be prepared to find yourself adding items to your fall shopping list for bulbs. Handouts will be sent to registered attendees prior to the lecture.

Be sure to sign up for the July 1^st Pop-Up 'A Sweet Summer Soiree', an in person visit to Charles Cresson's Hedgleigh Spring garden to view and smell many of his suggested lilies, and their companions, in bloom.

Charles Cresson is an avid gardener, plantsman, lecturer, consultant, and author. He studied horticulture in America and England, worked for the Royal Horticultural Society and has worked in many of our local public gardens. His family garden, Hedgleigh Spring, is an early 20^th Century flower garden with an extensive plant collection.

Charles is the award-winning author of three books: Charles Cresson on the American Flower Garden, Ornamental Trees, and Rock Gardening. In 2001, Charles was awarded the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Certificate of Merit. And at the HPS/MAG Annual Meeting in December 2023, Charles was honored as the first recipient of the “Jim Bobb Memorial Award,” an award created to recognize members whose outstanding contributions and long-term service have significantly enriched and expanded HPS/MAG.

This Zoom program is open to HPS/MAG Members and Non-members. $15 for Members; $25 for Non-members. Registration is required. This event will be recorded and will be available for registrants to watch for just 2 weeks following the lecture.

Registration will open March 26^th. Click here to register. The deadline for registering is May 5^th.

Click here if you would like to become a member of HPS/MAG before registering for this event.