Giant lilies are rare, and a truly pink one rarer still. If you need an excuse to visit Far Reaches Farm in Port Townsend, they have a pink Cardiocrinum giganteum flowering, and it's so tall it's bumping the roof of the lathe house.
Proprietors and plant-nuts-supreme Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken have been selecting out seed strains for years, but never expected one of their selections to bloom pink. Far Reaches is an extraordinary place filled with horticultural treasures, a mecca for gardeners, and a very fun and educative day trip.
Of course I had to ask when Far Reaches might have the rarified pink giant for sale. "We planted out a bunch of hand-pollinated, two year old seedlings from our original pink in our growing beds this spring which we would like to grow up to size for a couple more years before we make them available," says Kelly. So there's hope...
"This is the second bloom here of this rare form and this is a different clone with even pinker flowers than the one we bloomed 3 years ago so we’re pretty happy," says Sue. So will you be if you have a chance to see this rare and regal beauty in full, pink bloom.
Read more about Far Reaches Farm at "Plant Collector's Paradise Flourishes in Port Townsend" .
Far Reaches Farm is at 1818 Hastings Ave. in Port Townsend. It's open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10"00 - 4:00, and other days are possible with an appointment.
Phone: 360-385-5114; http://farreachesfarm.squarespace.com/
