Outdoers

Chocolate lilies worth a closer look

While I suspect that most read-
ers of this column are well
acquainted with our conspicuous,
late-blooming and showy tiger lily
(columbianum), I would guess that
fewer have seen the chocolate lily
shown in our photo today.

Since it lacks the brilliant color-
ation of the tiger lily it is easily
lost among the grasses and low

—

brush where it grows. Neverthe-
less, this lily 1s well worth a closer
look.

The chocolate lily grows to a
height of 10 to 20 inches with
brownish-purple flowers about an
inch across. But, viewed closely,
the flowers are strikingly mottled
with greenish-yellow and the inner
face of each tepal is marked with a
long bright greenish-yellow gland.

The brilliant yellow anthers
glow like spun gold against the
general dark background of the
flower cup. The flowers nod at the
tips of the gracefully curved stems,
their bright faces eluding the eye
of the observer.

Chocolate lilies have a host of
common names, They are often
called rice root or Indian rice from
the white rice-like scales which
cover their bulb. The North-coast
Indians dug and boiled these very
palatable roots for food.

“Brown lily,” ““speckled-hen”
and “snake lily” originated from
the peculiar color and markings of
the flowers; “mission bells” and
“bronze bells” from their graceful
shape; “skunk lily” from the
mildly rank scent and “sourdough
lily” from the slight odor and the
fact that it grows in the land of the
“sourdoughs.”

Among several of the tribes, this
lily provided a prized dish for
special festivals and feasts.

On the other hand, the uger lily
is much more conspicuous. It

TheReview

CHOCOLATE LILY
Fl

TIGER LILY

readily grows to a height of five or
six feet with few to several very
large flowers, each on a slender
petiole near the summit of the
plant.

‘The brilliant yellow
anthers glow like
spun gold against
the general dark
background of the
flower cup’

The long slender, pointed tepals
are bright orange, spotted with
dark brown. They tend to grow in
low rich soil, along streams and in
moist woodlands.

Our common tiger lily is a truly
magnificent plant with its wealth
of large, brilliantly colored flowers
but look for it later in the season.

At the moment, chocolate lilies
share our woodland hills and open
places with shiny-leaved Oregon

at:

community meetings:
Western Communities
May 21, 1991
6.00 - 8:00 p.m.
Metchosin Community Hall
4401 William Head Road
Metchosin

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Department of National Defence
Expansion of Helicopter Operations
at Victoria International Airport
and Rocky Point Depot

Copies of the Initial Environmental Evaluation
report may be reviewed from May 13 - 17, 1991

1. North Saanich, Central, Saanich, Colwood
and Metchosin Municipal Halls;

2. Greater Victoria Public Library,
735 Broughton Street;

3. Sidney-North Saanich Library,
10091 Resthaven; and

A. Capital Regional District Administration
Office, 524 Yates Street.

DND staff and consultants will be present ai two

Victoria & Saanich Peninsula
May 22, 1991
7.00 - 9:00 p.m.
Nell Horth Meeting Room
Sidney-North Saanich Library
10091 Resthaven, Sidney

Wednesday, May 8, 1991 — A24

= Ss THE PRESTIGE PLACE
WS i=s

=A Z : OF QUALICUM BEACH ~~ x
Bla Dutch i ;
INN

“e CATERER to QUEEN ELIZABETH II ©
offers
E!
Rae Pattee

AUTHENTIC DUTCH ATOMSPHERE
e MINI HOLIDAYS «

Until JUNE 1991 except long weekends & holidays
2 Dy Package 3'Day Package

«2 Nights 3 Nights

«2 Breakfasts

¢ 1 Dinner

¢ 3 Breakfasts ~
2 Dinners
_° 1 Dutch Treat e 1 Dutch Treat
$89.50/Person Dbl. Occ $140.00/Person Dbl. Occ.
Twin Bedded rooms add $5.00/Person
Call for Reservations: 752-6914
FAX: 752-6910

or write Box 1240, Qualicum Beach VOR 2T0

CY HAMPSON photo

EMERGENCY NUMBER 655-4459

5-10025 GALARAN RD. 656-1313

INTRODUCING THE TORO

RECYCLER MOWER

NOW HERE

20213... Hand Propelled
20214. cecsceccsecnereereteess Three Speed
Self Propelled

NO BAGGING OR RAKING
REDUCES MOWING TIME
BY ONE THIRD
IT WORKS!
AS SEEN ON T.V.

\ ey SEE THEM AT...
GRANT'S SMALL MOTORS

CY HAMPSON photo

grape, incomparable pink calypso
orchids, tiny blue-eyed Mary,
bright blue camassia, dainty fringe
cup, and shooting star.

Sedum or stonecrop adorms the
faces of rocks with their pearl-grey
foliage.and bright yellow flowers.

While the tepals of the choco-
late lily tend to form the shape of a
ball with each turned slightly
inward at the tip, those of the tiger
lily are sharply recurved, turning
backward towards the base of the
flower.

10134 McDonald Park Rd, Sidney, B.C. val 3x9 TORO,
656-7714

— «UUNETS
SENIOR'S MONTH

and in Celebration

Beechwood Village

is having a

SENIOR'S
FAIR

JUNE 7 & 8, 1991
And is Now Inviting
Your Business or Service
Group to be an Exhibitor!

If you would like to participate in the Senior's
fair by operating an informative booth or
display to help provide information on services
and/or products for seniors, PLEASE CALL

— ie aid VILLAGE 655-0849

SIDNEY BY THESEA~ 2315 MILLS ROAD, SIDNEY B.C. V8L 2€3
Celebrating Sidney’s 100th Birthday Throughout 1991

@