Never Enough Calla Lilies

I've loved calla lilies since I was a little girl.  I remember the first time I saw a giant white bloom, complimented by its surrounding foliage.  When I shared with my mother that calla lilies were my favorite flower, her response was "Oh God, those are for funerals." 

Well, I'm all grown up now; and, calla lilies aren't just for funerals anymore.  My first calla lily shopping spree took place at a local nursery.  I'd only seen white callas...and that was perfectly fine with me.  The callas were lovingly planted by my dear husband.  Then I went back indoors to look up "Calla Lily Care" on the Internet.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I could order calla lily bulbs that would generate blooms in a variety of colors, sizes, and blooming periods; plus, they offered different foliage types and varied from being perennials to herbaceous perennials in my garden (USDA hardiness zone 9b and heat tolerance zone 9). 

The first order I placed was for five different varieties of black calla lilies.  Over the course of a couple months of waiting for my precious gems to grow, I visited local nurseries.  They had other colors of callas already in full bloom!  Yay me!  And, of course, I had to bring home a few more callas.  :)

Fast forward to today...less than two years later.  I just received a shipment of 26 Rubylite Pink Ice calla lily bulbs that will be planted in my "pink and white" garden on one side of our home.  Here's the dilemna:  I learned that calla lily 'Hot Chocolate' is immediately available for shipment from the same vendor.  Plus, and by the end of January, they will know how many other varieties that they are going to carry for the 2010 growing season.

With this dilemna in mind, are there other people in the world like me?  Do they crave having the most unusual of callas for oohs and aaahs in the garden as well as ecstatic responses when they are given as cut flowers?  Do they weigh whether or not to place another calla lily bulb order?  Do they ever feel like they can never have enough of these gorgeous flowers with their lush foliage?  Do I go ahead and purchase some 'Hot Chocolate' calla lily bulbs; or, does this calla lily addict force herself to be patient for another 30 days and see what 2010 offerings will be for sale? 

I'll admit it:  I like compliments about my flowers....but, truthfully, it is the responses I get to giving away calla lily cut flower in unexpected color varities that gives me an ego boost. 

Tags

Calla Lilies, Bulbs, Perennials