Lilies 11

Lilies are among the superstars of the summer garden. They are glamorous, often headily fragrant and quite heart-stoppingly beautiful. On summer evenings their scent can be ravishing and the paler-hued lilies appear to glow as darkness falls.

There are lilies with large, elegant trumpet-shaped flowers and others that are more open-faced and star-like. There are delicate, airy lilies with petals that curve back on themselves that naturalise well in light shade. Pots filled with lilies can line a path for a special occasion, or be positioned in a border for added drama. Planted at the foot of a wall in a sheltered spot they will return year after year, providing perennial pleasure.