I always like to take a look back in history-- especially the history that revolves around our family and business. Maybe it is because I am the second oldest family member still in our business --not that I am old. Of course my cousin Mike who enjoys pointing out my “few” streaks of “premature” gray hair and my slight loss of hearing claims that I worked shoulder to shoulder with our great grandfather Pa—Alexander Skillin. Pa actually started our business in 1885, so you see my point. I do actually remember Pa because he lived a good long life thanks to his healthy habit of taking naps in the afternoon, but definitely what I remember the most are the stories about him and some of his amazing accomplishments.
One of his accomplishments or perhaps passions was the growing of Calla lilies. He became so well known in a large part of Northern New England for growing and selling cut Calla Lilies in the local market that back in 1930 he had an exhibit at the Boston Flower Show featuring his Calla Lilies. Part of his display was a miniature replica of a wooden greenhouse that he built . You can still see the greenhouse on display at our Falmouth store. His daughter Florence also helped with this display and we have a great photo of her alongside the replica greenhouse. I wish I could tell you more about the 1930 Boston Flower Show and his great display that year, but hey I wasn’t there, Mike!
Pa would start his Calla Lilies in special growing beds he would prepare on the floor of what we used to call greenhouse #1 early every spring. (Currently our large plant "atrium" is in that spot). He would sterilize his soil (soils now come to us already sterilized!) by using live steam pumped in from the steam boilers—this process would kill pest and funguses in the soil. Once the basic soil was sterilized he would put the finishing touches on his special soil mixture. I have never been able to come across any of his notes describing his formula for blending the soil and since it was part of his success I’m pretty sure he kept it safely lock in his head. It’s too bad I didn’t pick up on it when I worked with him Mike!
The Calla lilies of those days were used a lot in weddings, in big formal floral pieces for special occasions and for funeral work. White was the big color and for the most part they where the bigger flower types. Now here is where I enjoy history, it repeats itself. Over 100 years later and well into the 21st Century, Calla lilies are found once again in production as a great cut flower, but with a twist. Now they are raised over the world all season long, they are no longer just big and white but small and grown in many great colors. The creation of these new varieties has enable this great flower to be part of the everyday cut flower scene while many varieties are great grown as a container crop as well as for “showy” flower gardens.
So the one Pa grew was probably “Florist Lily” Zantedeschia aethiopica or something very similar. It grows up to 48”tall with huge Ivory white flowers in the summer. Looking recently at the catalog of one of our Holland bulb growers I see they are listing 12 different colors of Calla Lilies and if you are planning something new for the garden this next growing season then take a look at these.
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| Zantedeschia aethiopica--very possibly the Calla Lily that Pa grew |
We will have many of these fine varieties available soon!
Zantedeschia ‘Albomaculata’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Arrow shaped speckled leaves
White blooms
Used primarily for 6” pots
Height 12-14”
Z. ‘ Anneke’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Speckled Leaves
Lavender Blooms
Used primarily in 6” pots
Height 18-20”
Z. ‘Best Gold’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Speckled green leaves
Gold blooms
Primarily used in 6” pots
Height 14-18”
Z. ‘Classic Harmony’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Lightly speckled green leaves
Blooms Peach with pink undertones
Primarily used for 6” pots
Height 14-18”
Z. ‘Crystal Blush’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Plain dark green foliage
White blooms changing to blush pink
Use for 6”pots, or cut for in the garden
Height 18-20”
Z. ‘Dark Eyes’
Blooms summer , 70-75 days
Plain dark foliage
Dark pink with dark purple throat
Use for 6” pots, or cut flowers in the garden
Height 16-20”
Z. ‘Flame’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Arrow shaped spotted leaves
Large yellow and red blooms turning deeper red with age
Use for 6” pots, or cut flowers in the garden
Height 14-18”
Z. ‘Galaxy’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Lightly speckled green leaves
Fuchsia blooms
Use for 6: pots, or cut flowers in the garden
Height 12-14”
Z. ‘Mango’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Speckled green leaves
Orange blooms
Use for 6” pots, or cut flower in the garden
Height 16-18”
Z. ‘Picasso’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Speckled green leaves
Velvet purple blooms edged in yellow
Use for 6”pots, or cut flowers in the garden
Height 16-18”
Z. ‘Rubylite Pink Ice’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Vigorous plain green leaves
Uniform soft pink blooms
Use for 4” pots, or great garden flower
Height 12-14”
Z. ‘Super Gem’
Blooms summer, 70-75 days
Plain green leaves
Large rose pink blooms
Use for 6” pots, or cut flowers in the garden
Height 14-18”
Netherland Bulb Company (our calla lily bulb supplier) has some great growing tips though I’m sure not as good as Pa’s. Netherland Bulb and for that matter most all bulb producers treat callas with Giberellic acid to increase bud count to maximize the color for that growing season. Tubers that we gardeners save for the next season will still have great blooms ; however, there is a good chance not as many.
A general rule for planting in pots is one calla tuber per 6” pot and up to 3 in pots 10 to 12” wide. Use a well drained potting mix (Bar Harbor Blend by Coast of Maine Organics is all natural and works just great!) and cover the tubers with about 1” of potting mix. Watering is critical; callas do not tolerate wet feet but neither do they like to dry out completely. Night growing temperature is best at 60 to 65 degrees F and not to drop below that during the day. Callas are not heavy feeders so lightly fertilizeonce shoots begin to appear. Even if you plan to grow your calla lilies in the garden I feel it’s best to still start them in pots and allow good root development and plant out after the first of June.
Callas are full sun plants, great for cut flowers, butterflies and are deer resistant and will produce elegant blooms in about 7 to 9 weeks. Hey Pa created “quite a stir” with his calla lilies and I bet you can too!
Terry Skillin
Skillin’s Greenhouses
March 7, 2011
1 comment:
I so enjoy reading the history of the Skillin's family! Calla Lilies have also fascinated me for years. But I won't reveal why here, but in a future posting.
Thanks for sharing!
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