Arlene Wright-Correll

The Calla Lilies Are in Bloom©



Posted: Sunday, September 07, 2008

by
http://www.learn-america.com

Those of us who are Katherine Hepburn fans will always remember that famous line in one of her movies, "The Calla Lilies are in bloom!"

These wonderful, hardy bulbs or tubers are great perennials and wonderful multipliers when planted in the correct zones which are 3-8 and hardy in 8-10 according to many nurseries, yet here in zone 6 they have been coming back for about 6 years now.

These are often used by florists in bridal bouquets. I discovered them accidentally, one year; in my local gardening center and they reminded me of the famous movie line so I purchased a mixed bag of about 10 and planted them that fall.

Although the Calla lily is called a lily it is not really a lily, it belongs to the same family as the jack-in-the-pulpit and the caladium, but it is not as hardy.

The unique and stately colored foliage of calla lily is trumpet shaped and the outer colored leaves are referred to as spathes which encircle the spadix which is a tapering yellow enclosure for the actual flower. The green leaves of the calla lily are shaped like arrowheads and usually have silver or white speckles.

The tubers have finger-like growths on them. Our soil is Kentucky clay and I had to amend it with mulch and organic matter to give them the conditions they like. Calla lilies do well in containers and even make lovely house plants.

I have never had to dig mine up, but if I lived in a northern zone I would dig them up after the foliage had withered away and store the tubers in a cool, dry location until spring since this will prevent any cut portions you created when you divided them to dry since any cut portions will rot. I would store them in open bags or containers filled with peat moss, vermiculite or perlite. Then in the spring, after all danger of frost had passed I would replant the tubers and at that time they should be fertilized with a good organic 5-10-1- or 5-10-16 fertilizer.

Keep pets and children away from calla lilies as they contain a poisonous ingredient called oxalic acid and if this plant is ingested you should contact a poison control center immediately.

Keeping that caution in mind you will not get a more glorious flower than a Calla lily as they come in all kinds of colors and are a truly beautiful sight to behold.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with

Peace, Light and Love,

Author's note: This article was originally written for GreenThumbArticles.com

About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

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