The first Casa Blanca lilies, late afternoon...

'Casa Blanca' oriental lilies are my favorite of all lilies, and I planted 50 of them this year. Today the first one erupted into bloom after what seemed like weeks of buds getting bigger and fatter by the day. When I went out I picked three each with 3 or 4 buds per stem for a vase in the house and they perfume the whole place. These are powerfully fragrant, huge white lilies.

I took pictures in the vase and hadn't thought that these would turn out because I had held the white lilies up against the white brick but was amazed when I came inside to see the play of light and shadow and I loved this shot. This is the beginning of many weeks of many kinds of lilies but these are my favorites and the first ones to open are cause for celebration!