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Idyllwild Lilium parryi Restoration Plan
The Lemon lily restoration project is a collaborative effort between Idyllwild residents and the Forest Service. The Forest Service is working on a plan to restore the lilies on National Forest and Wilderness lands, while local citizens with the help of the Lemon Lily Festival subcommittee on restoration are undertaking the effort on privately held lands.
In 2009 and 2010 Forest Service personnel collected Lilium parryi seeds from the San Jacinto Mountains. Likewise, representatives of the Lemon Lily Festival steering committee were given seeds from Idyllwild residents from plants growing on private properties in Idyllwild. In addition, a few plants were purchased from a local nursery.
Some of the seeds were sewn directly into the ground in select locations. We are also trying to learn how best to cultivate the lilies from seeds to plants whose size and age will better insure their survival once transplanted into the wild. Most of the seeds are being germinated and grown utilizing traditional gardening techniques.
A number of seeds have been germinated using a tissue culture technique. Seeds were cleaned and sterilized before being inoculated into sterile media containing nutrients and growth factors. We hope to expand this experiment once materials and equipment can be obtained through grants or donations.
Of the 101 plants that were purchased, 59 have been planted in eleven separate locations in Idyllwild and Pine Cove. Most of these have been concentrated in areas where they can be viewed by people living in or visiting Idyllwild. The remaining plants are being held at the Nature Center and will be displayed around Idyllwild prior to and during the Lemon Lily Festival.
The long term plan for restoration is not and never has been to rely on commercially grown plants. The reasons for this are many. First, it is not economically feasible to purchase thousands of plants at retail price for the many years it will take to accomplish our objective. Second, there are so few plants being grown by nurseries that in many years there will be few or none available to purchase. Finally, as a matter of philosophy and good science, we want to use plants from local seed stocks to restore Lilium parryi to its historical range in the San Jacintos.
