Along Highway 105, between Westport and Aberdeen, you can find Monte and Loni Hooper, world-travelers and plant enthusiasts who are as bright and interesting as the flowers they grow. Lily Lane Farm is almost wrapping up its 19th year in business, with Labor Day usually marking the end of the season.
The Hoopers, who found each other while working at Pike Place Market some years ago, made the farm their permanent residence after a house fire forced them to move. They wanted to use their land to grow something easy and hardy (something for people with brown thumbs, Monte would say).
They began with Asiatic and Oriental lilies, but lost many of them to slugs, voles, and fungus. And so, they moved on to daylilies. Daylilies, they found, were just right. Soon they began hybridizing their own lilies. Monte named his first, a purple hybrid, after his wife – the Loni Jane Hooper.
To build on their lily business, they built a tiny gift shop. When that was a success, they expanded into a larger building where they now sell antiques as well. Many of the antiques are from their personal collection. They primarily sell small items.
While visiting Lily Lane Farm pick up a dozen fresh eggs from their chickens, vegetables for your garden and other plants. But the daylilies are their pride. They carry a wide variety, many of which are difficult to find. Onsite, they grow around 235 types, seven or eight of which are original hybrids. They pride themselves on helping people understand how to grow plans in whatever location they live.
This year was their second hosting Daylily Days, a weekend festival in July. They’re planning for a third year, to include vendors, demonstrations for flower arranging, and hopefully a Master Gardner clinic where people can bring in their plants and get advice.
Lily Lane Farm continues to plan changes for the coming years, and are steadily expanding what they offer. Next year they’ll be adding Dahlia tubers to their product list.
If you’re a Dr. Who fan, be sure to check out their Tardis.
Lily Lane Farm
6 John Wayne Lane in Aberdeen
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Wednesday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
