I admit to a weak attempt at clever. August lilies, echinacea and roses do inspire awe.
The star gazer lily is a hybrid developed in the late 20th century.
I love the lilies that bloom in August. The star gazer pictured above is one of my favorites. Lilies have symbolic meaning dating back to ancient mythology and folklore. Their presence brings to mind all that is deeply spiritual. This is especially true in the case of the white star gazer.  Purity, innocence and sympathy are associated it.
Toward the end of the twentieth century a much less innocent star gazer came on the flower scene. With its deeply beguiling shade of pink, the last thing that comes to my mind is innocence and purity. It’s bold, dramatic, beautiful and beguiling. Add to that a scent that wafts across the yard beckoning you to stop and inhale its sweet and lusty scent.
The casa blanca symbolizes purity and innocence.
When growing the pink variety of the star gazer, think of it as symbolizing wealth and prosperity. I would go beyond that and say that it is the flashiest of lilies and shamelessly demands attention. Anything, plant or human, that looks and smells like the star gazer is out for attention.
Let’s get back to the theme of innocence and purity. The casa blanca stands a vigorous five to six feet tall with multiple ten inch blooms. Its pure white color looks as if it is made of velvet and the red to gold colored centers adorn its strong presence.   It is vigorous and returns each year to grace my yard with its glorious beauty. Its dominance seems perfectly acceptable. No other lily that I know of is as tall and stately as the casa blanca. Its lovely scent dominates even that of the stargazer. They bloom at the same time so the yard is a wonderland of scent and color.
Its only downside is that it can be toxic to cats. I have two cats and they are both too lazy to knock down a five foot plant and then eat it, so I wouldn’t worry about its danger to our feline friends.
As a sideline there is a bit of trivia concerning the casa blanca. Myth has it that the lily was born from the milk of the Greek goddess Hera and is therefore a symbol of purity. I don’t believe Hera was all that pure, but myth can make of her as it will. Christian tradition holds that it is symbolic of pure and virginal love while the Chinese saw it as a lucky charm. If worn it could even ward off the evil eye. Europeans until the end of the twentieth century still used it in a variety of remedies to cure a variety of ailments. Whatever! Its undying place in the world is to startle with its majestic beauty.
Although beautiful, echinacea is best known as an herbal remedy.
Echinacea begins blooming in July, yet it is at its best in August. My plant has sentimental value as it was given to me by a dear friend. With its annual summer return comes thoughts of my friend.
It’s more than a pretty face though. Also known as Cone Flower the pink variety, which I have, is planted near my star gazer lily. It can stand on its own against the flashy and much taller plant. Bees love it as evidenced by the one visiting it. I plant it for its looks, but there are medicinal uses for it.
It’s a native of the Great Plains where it grows wild. It was used by American Indians of the Plains for a variety of medicinal purposes. Its greatest claim is that it boosts the immune system.
The plant’s name is derived from the Greek word echinos which means hedgehog. I really don’t see how a plant native to the Great Plains received a Greek name or what the flower has to do with a hedgehog. But, I do find the fact interesting.
Plant them and love their sturdy longevity. Mine is about eight years old and has withstood Arctic freezes and blazing hot weather and it flourishes regardless. It simply loves to live in good soil with minimal water. I prefer the pink variety but two others stand out as well. The White Swan is a pure white with yellow to bronze centers and Art’s Pride is a bronze to rust color with darker centers.
Plant them! They’re not high maintenance and make for a nice contrast to the flashier lilies.
