ANNI FRIESINGER TO NAME OWN LILY AT KEUKENHOF DURING BIGGEST LILY SHOW IN THE WORLD - Keukenhof - Lisse - Holland

ANNI FRIESINGER TO NAME OWN LILY AT KEUKENHOF DURING BIGGEST LILY SHOW IN THE WORLD

Lisse, 2 May 2011 – During the opening of the biggest lily show in the world, from 12-20 May at Keukenhof, Anni Friesinger will name her own lily. The lily show is the grand finale of the indoor exhibitions in the specially designed Willem Alexander Pavilion. Visitors to the spring park in Lisse will also find colourful, enchantingly exotic flower shows in the Oranje Nassau Pavilion and the Beatrix Pavilion. With both permanent and changing indoors shows, Keukenhof remains a unique floral experience right up to the last opening day.  

The three specially designed flower pavilions are set in various locations around the spring park in Lisse. With their stunning theme shows they give those special accents to Keukenhof that so attract amateur and professional visitors alike.

Anni Friesinger and Germany
By naming a new lily after the former skating champion Anni Friesinger-Postma, Keukenhof is following a tradition. It is also a friendly reference to the theme of Keukenhof 2011, ‘Germany – Land of Poets and Philosophers’. Other skating stars who have previously had a new flower named after them during the famous lily show were Ard Schenk and Marianne Timmer. With five European titles, five Olympic medals (three gold and two bronze) and three world titles to her name, Anni Friesinger is of the same calibre. During her speech at the official opening of the lily show, besides naming the lily, she will discuss the differences between the Netherlands and Germany. Anni Friesinger is married to the Dutch former skating champion Ids Postma and speaks Dutch fluently, which has contributed to her huge popularity. 

New lilies
Friesinger will name a new white Oriental lily, the distinctive features of which are its pure white colour and strikingly large flower buds. It was bred by a renowned breeder and has all it takes to become a huge success, just like the person it is named after.

Oriental lilies make up the largest group in the current range. At Keukenhof this is demonstrated to the full by the many entries, which include several more novelties. Such as the white Signum and Meriva, the pink Lexus, Notable with its deep pink outside and pale pink edges, and the deep pink Shandong. A new development which is very much in evidence at the lily show are the so-called OT lilies. These are hybrids between Oriental and Trumpet lilies. New colours include the orange Corcovado, the pink-red Esta Bonita and Pink Magic, which also has a white edge. The pure white promise Zembesi is being launched at Keukenhof. New red varieties were long sought after, the new promises being Red Desire and Red Heat. OT lilies are easier to grow and therefore more sustainable, and have a better bud presentation than Orientals.  

Classic and modern
Another well-known type of lilies are the longiflorums, commonly known as Easter lilies. The traditional varieties have a naturally hanging flower. New varieties show a development towards a more upright flower, which gives a highly decorative value. Novelties in this section with (semi) upright flowers are Savanne, Illusive, and Watch Up.

All the classic Asiatic types and LA hybrids (longiflorum-asiatic hybrids) give a colourful impression of the growing achievements of Dutch breeders, bulb growers and flower growers. The Tango varieties remain special; Asiatic lilies with dark centred flowers for cutting, a line of which is now also available as a pot lily: Passion Lily. Another variety of lilies with a black-centred flower is the Pixel, and equally exceptional are the double-flowered, pollen-free Twin types, available in five colours. Pot lilies now also include the first varieties with hanging flowers. Although new to the range of pot lilies, it is a familiar feature among cutting lilies and typical garden lilies such as the well-known Tigrinum. This classic type will also be well represented beside all the novelties in the Willem Alexander Pavilion.

Wide variety
In the Beatrix Pavilion Dutch growers present a unique collection of tropical and exotic plants, with Bromelia, Anthurium and Orchids in the leading role. Whatever the weather and temperature outside, this exceptional plant collection means the atmosphere here is always (sub) tropical. 

In the Oranje Nassau Pavilion an impressive series of exhibitions will end with the eighth indoor show, from 12 -20 May. Here, cut flowers such as Carnations, Zantedeschia, Bouvardia, cut-flower Hydrangeas, Peonies and a wide selection of summer flowers are combined with unusual and common flowering plants from the Saintpaulia and Kalanchoe ranges. A surprising combination in a fascinating decor, incorporating the theme ‘Germany – Land of Poets and Philosophers’. Huge backdrops and ceiling elements recreate the atmosphere and ambiance of Berlin in the 1920s. Daily flower-arranging demonstrations and presentations are an extra attraction in this pavilion, with special focus on the show’s theme flowers.

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