Idyllwild's Lemon Lily Festival: Restoration Efforts Promising, Celebration Dates Set

June 3, 2014 - PRLog -- Idyllwild, CA -- The Idyllwild Lemon Lily Festival invites everyone to come up to enjoy the cool mountain air this July 12 & 13.  Join us for two days of fun for everyone: pioneer town, hikes, nature walks, crafts, food, bluegrass music and much more. Many activities are free, and all proceeds go to help restore the beautiful Lemon Lily to the San Jacinto Mountains.

Run mostly by volunteers with guidance from Idyllwild Nature Center staff, Lemon Lilies are grown from seeds that are carefully monitored at the Idyllwild Nature Center and at the homes of volunteers. According to Nature Center Interpreter Jyoti Kintz, this year's restoration efforts are promising with a germination rate of over 90 percent of seeds planted. Kintz explained, "The deciding point, however is the effect the severe drought will have after the seedlings are planted in the fall and whether or not we have enough volunteers to get them all planted."  So far, nearly all of the 200 seeds have developed into thriving seedlings.

Founded in 2009 and in its fifth year, the festival's mission is to promote, restore, and educate the public about the Lemon Lily (Lilium parryi), a species of lily that is indigenous to the San Jacinto Mountains. Early in the 20th century, the mountains were covered in this fragrant yellow flower, often found growing near moist riparian areas.  Over the course of the last century, the Lemon Lily was severely over-harvested by visitors to the point of near local-extinction. In 2009, a group of local business folks along with the support of the Idyllwild Nature Center formed a committee to raise awareness and support in an effort to restore the Lemon Lilly to its natural habitat as well as promote the mountain village of Idyllwild.

In 2010, the late Huell Howser produced a segment for "Visiting with Huell Howser" about the festival.

With an average attendance of 3000 visitors, the festival offers activities for all ages: A real, old time pioneer town, educational talks and activities, nature hikes walks, crafts, food, live bluegrass music, beer garden, local artisans, and much more. Many activities are free, and all proceeds go to help restore the beautiful Lemon Lily to the San Jacinto Mountains. Visit our website for more information at www.lemonlilyfestival.com. The Lemon Lily Festival is supported by The FRIENDS of the San Jacinto Mountain Parks, which is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.

For more information, please send an email to info@lemonlilyfestival.com, visit the website atwww.lemonlilyfestival.com or call the Idyllwild Nature Center at 951.659.3850 for more information.

Press Contact:
Julia Countryman
info@lemonlilyfestival.com
951.834.4506.