Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1884 — The California Lilies. [ARTICLE]

The California Lilies.

The California Horticulturist thus speaks of the native lilies: “The mountain children whom one meets on their way to school in the morning load themselves down with what they call ‘Tiger Lilies,* or, in other words, Lilium Humboldtii, whose spires flash out with wonderful brilliancy around the bases of volcanic rocks, or near shattered ledges, or on the hard red clay of the hillsides. One of our authors, who studies with loving and analytic mind the colors, and sounds, and meanings of the Sierra woods, has called it ‘camelian-hued,’ with its orange and amber ground, veined with black. In favorable places we have found lily-stems as tall as a man. The bulbs are deep down, and not easily dug out. Some insect bores into and ruins many a choice bud. This lily loves company, being always found in groups. # Where you see one yellow flash, you may be sure there are others near. After blossoming time is over*) the stalks disappear very quickly. By following np the long ridges, blossoms may be found in perfection for several months. The same is true of the lovely white lily, L. Washingtonianum. Both species are in perfection in Nevada County. ”