Mrs Tinson's rare Mylnefield Lilies - bred specifically to withstand the Scottish climate - have been awarded Collection Status.

The Mylnefield, or North lilies were developed 40 years ago at SCRI - Scotland's crop research institute by the late Dr Christopher North. Dr North bred 17 new lilies with hues ranging from gold through red, orange and yellow to speckled cream. One group he named after his female relatives - the Ladies - and the other after Gods - the Greek series.

It was the usual story - when Dr North's breeding programme ceased, the lilies were dispersed throughout the UK and little commercial interest in making them more widely available and over time several of the varieties have been lost, though they may still exist, unrecognised and forgotten, in gardens. Fortunately a virus-free collection of most of the Mylnefield Lilies was established in the late 1980s by Dr Peter Waister and since then other enthusiasts have tracked down these beautiful plants. there are now two National Collections  - Mrs Tinson's and  the National Trust for Scotland's Branklyn Gardens in Perth as well as a group reestablished at their original home, SCRI.  

Image above 'Barbara North': copyright Stan Farrow  http://www.flickr.com/photos/28918294@N00/5921124951/